WASHINGTON (AP) – Marcus Mariota is headed to the Commanders in Washington. Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels might be the next?
The Commanders’ decision to select Mariota on Tuesday, an accomplished veteran backup quarterback, may be a hint to their intentions regarding the NFL draft and the route they want to take the position in the future.
Since being selected as the second choice in the 2015 NFL Draft, Mariota, 30, has made appearances in 90 games and started 74 for four different teams. He most recently filled in as Jalen Hurts’ backup in Philadelphia during the previous season.
The 30-year-old Oregon product’s addition raises the possibility that Washington may select a quarterback with the No. 2 pick this year. Prospects such as Maye of North Carolina and Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, are anticipated to be available if Chicago selects Caleb Williams of Southern California first.
The Commanders could select a quarterback in the draft and choose to retain Mariota and Sam Howell as starters in 2023.
After signing a one-year contract with Washington on Tuesday, veteran tight end Zach Ertz stated, “Obviously, I have no idea what the decision is going to be.” “Building a team is a 365-day-a-year job, so whatever they do today may not be the final verdict come Sept. 10 or whenever the first game is.”
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According to a second source with knowledge of the matter, defensive end Clelin Ferrell and the Commanders reached an agreement on a one-year contract. A third source claimed to have struck a $16 million, three-year contract with a $9.02 million guarantee with guard Nick Allegretti.
Because the contracts aren’t official until Wednesday, they also spoke to the AP under anonymity.
The Commanders also decided to sign center Tyler Biadasz, running back Austin Ekeler, defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong, linebacker Frankie Luvu, and kicker Brandon McManus since the free agent negotiation window started on Monday. All of this is a part of coach Dan Quinn and new general manager Adam Peters’ retooling attempt.
Ferrell, who turns 27 in May, had 3 1/2 sacks and 17 starts for the 49ers in the previous campaign. He was the Raiders’ fourth-round selection in the 2019 draft, and he has played in 75 professional games with Oakland/Las Vegas and San Francisco.
The vacuum left by dealing Chase Young and Montez Sweat before the deadline in October is filled in part by Ferrell and Armstrong. Biadasz and Allegretti are a part of Kliff Kingsbury’s revamp of the offensive line.
Allegretti, who turns 28 in one month, relieved Kansas City Chiefs captain Joe Thuney after he was sidelined by an injury during the playoffs. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl. Due to a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, he was unable to play for around half of the Super Bowl.
On the offensive line, there is still a lot of work to be done, including finding a left tackle replacement. At that position, Washington has two second-round picks (Nos. 36 and 40) and two third-round picks (Nos. 67 and 99) in this year’s deep draft.
In a video conference with reporters, Ertz, who signed his contract last week, stated that the three players—Petersen, Quinn, and Kingsbury—were the main reasons Washington was an attractive option for him. He specifically mentioned Kingsbury because Ertz was a player for him in Arizona.
“He’s a guy that was one of the best offensive minds that I have been around up to date, and I still feel that way, so I’m extremely excited to get back in his offense and also just help this team, help this organization kind of build success from the ground up,” Ertz stated. “I can’t wait to see what he does with these quarterbacks and, I would say, whoever else we bring in.”
