Commanders Keep or Cut Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke?
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The Washington Commanders will have to re-shuffle the deck at the quarterback position this offseason if they want to return to the playoffs.
After finishing 8-8-1, the Commanders finished last place in the uber-competitive NFC East and saw all three of their rivals make the Divisional Round, including the Philadelphia Eagles, who will play in next week's Super Bowl.
ESPN simulated the offseason and how the quarterback carousel will work for the offseason, predicting that the Commanders will re-sign Taylor Heinicke to a one-year deal while cutting Carson Wentz.
Given the fact that Wentz carries a cap hit of over $26 million and he went just 2-5 as the starter this past season, cutting him is an easy decision.
The Commanders offered Heinicke a $6 million contract with a $3 million signing bonus and the rest of the money incentive-based.
"Washington wants to give Howell a shot to be the starter, but Heinicke provides insurance, especially if it continues with a similar system," ESPN writes. "It's a one-year deal, and with uncertainty about ownership, there's no reason to push money into the future on a backup QB. Heinicke likes Howell quite a bit, so he'd be fine backing him up or starting if necessary."
Ultimately, despite the slew of veterans possibly looking for a new home this offseason, ESPN predicts that the Commanders will ride with Heinicke and Howell again in 2023, in hopes that things will change.
Giving Howell more of an opportunity could be the answer, but it comes with a lot of risk. And the decisions at the quarterback position could decide whether head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew stay with the Commanders beyond the 2023 season.
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