The Washington Football Team attempted to trade for Matthew Stafford last month, offering a package headlined by the No. 19 overall selection in the 2021 draft in exchange for the longtime Lions passer. Although Detroit opted to take the Rams’ offer instead, there are five other quarterbacks from outside the organization that Washington wants to explore, as John Keim of ESPN.com writes.
Keim’s source did not name those QBs, but it’s safe to assume that WFT is at least kicking the tires on trade candidates like Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz, and Sam Darnold. The club’s interest in Stafford and other signal-callers obviously suggests that it is not entirely sold on having Alex Smith return as the starter next season, but that scenario remains on the table.
If he does return, though, he would need to rework his contract. He is presently scheduled to count $24.4MM against the cap in 2021, and that is simply untenable. The newly-minted Comeback Player of the Year was a remarkable story in 2020, completing his recovery from a devastating leg injury suffered in November 2018 to start six games for WFT (winning five of them) and lead the club to a playoff berth. But he was more of a game manager than anything else, as he threw for six touchdowns against eight interceptions and posted a poor 78.5 QB rating.
Plus, he will be 37 when the 2021 season starts, and he missed three of the team’s final four games — including the wildcard round matchup with the Bucs — due to a bone bruise. So it’s far from a sure thing that he will be able to handle a full 16-game slate at this point, and even if he can, he no longer possesses the type of mobility that had become a key feature of his game.
He could theoretically agree to a pay cut to stay with WFT, or he and Washington could come to terms on an extension that reduces his 2021 cap number. Keim suggests that WFT would be willing to go the extension route, as the club is concerned that forfeiting draft capital for a different quarterback would limit its ability to strengthen the rest of the roster. On the other hand, it’s unlikely that Smith would play to the end of the extension, so Washington could be saddled with substantial dead money in the future.
Of course, Washington could also release Smith, but that would only happen if the team has already acquired or is prepared to acquire another quarterback. A release would save WFT $13.6MM in cap space this year, and it would also allow the team to avoid the possibility of carrying Smith-related charges on its books beyond the 2021 season. Interestingly, multiple NFL execs, coaches, and scouts tell Keim that they view Smith as a backup at this point in his career, which might make Smith more receptive to a pay cut (though that is just my speculation).
Smith could also retire, but he did not seem ready to hang up the cleats in a recent interview. And Keim says retirement is the least likely scenario at this point, so one way or another, Washington will need to be the one to make the call on Smith’s future.
All of this suggests that WFT is not going to entertain the notion of having Taylor Heinicke open the 2021 season as the starter, despite some tongue-in-cheek calls for him to do so. The team did recently hand the near-playoff hero an extension, and while it was originally reported as a two-year, $8.75MM deal, a lot will need to go right for the soon-to-be 28-year-old to max out that contract. Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post has the full breakdown, which includes a $1MM salary in 2021, a $1.5MM salary in 2022, and $1.25MM in per game roster bonuses over the next two seasons (Twitter link). Field Yates of ESPN.com adds that Heinicke will pocket a $1MM signing bonus, so it’s really a two-year deal with a base value of $4.75MM and up to $4MM in incentives (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, Keim says Washington will retain Kyle Allen via an exclusive rights free agent tender. Allen followed head coach Ron Rivera from Carolina to Washington and makes for a solid third-string option if nothing else.
The 19th pick sounds like a really good place to take either the guy that falls out of the top guys like maybe Lance, or one of the next tier guys like Mac Jones or Kyle Trask..
Bring back Alex, let one of those guys sit a year, add some offensive weapons, and then you have your QBOTF, some weapons on offense, and then plus your excellent defense..Sounds like the makings of a new competitive window and a contender!!
The question they may be asking themselves though is can Alex Smith last a full year under center? He’s 37, and that leg injury was absolutely brutal.
I felt Stafford would have been the perfect get for them. I don’t believe they have the assets to pry Watson away.
For the record, I don’t believe Wilson gets traded. He’d be the guy though if he is actually available.
Not saying your idea is bad, but I think they view themselves as contenders. If they do, it’s tough to see them going your route.
I do t think they can afford to use the 19th pick on a player who won’t see the field in 2021. They need offensive weapons and that’s a perfect place to grab one. They made the playoffs but were only 7-9 and the division is up for grabs again.
I don’t think Lance gets out of the top 10. Trask will be there late. I keep reading how much Belicheck likes Mac Jones and Nick Saban.
I Didn’t understand Why they Didn’t bring Him: AS back, IF tho, he was Only interested in starting, then: Yup, made sense. I Thought for sure there’d be a spot for him in the FO.
Most would not agree with me but I think Andy Dalton would work wonders for WFT, especially in that weak division. I know not likely as I think he’s under contract in the division.
Other than that I feel like This could be where Trubisky, Darnold or Jimmy G wind up. It’s going to be an interesting couple months.
Andy Dalton is a FA
Trask or Mac Jones is not ideal for 19.. trade back gain capital and take Jones or Trask late 20’s
Both will be busts…..stay away
I can’t believe some team hasn’t snatched you up as a high paid talent evaluator yet!
Sounds like Washington doesn’t actually HAVE a plan at quarterback. Smith is kaput – as what’s left of his leg simply doesn’t have what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.
As for Detroit, they decided that multiple first rounders was worth taking on the Goff albatross – as they clearly view “competing” as something they won’t be capable of doing until 2023 at the earliest.
Lol. Come on. People just don’t seem to connect the dots. If Goff was a negative, they would’ve obviously just taken the Carolina offer, with the 8th pick. They wanted Goff and there’s 0% chance that they sent another 1st to include Goff. He was always part of the package.
or maybe Carolina was never actuallt offering the 8th or wanted more in return
Their new GM was in on the Goff pick for LA, after all.
I would have to agree with MileHighFan. A team that can’t even decide on a name isn’t going to have a plan on anything as important as the QB.
Actually it looks like WFT is going to be the name. According to sources Snyder likes that name because it appeals to the UK fan base as a lot of soccer “football” teams over there go that route and the former Redskins have a huge following over there. Also many fans still call them the Redskins anyway because the name wasn’t changed just this place holder so he gets to have his cake and eat it too.
No way a QB in round 1. Need to fortify the offense , line or WR2.
And do not overpay in a trade for a vet (I don’t think Rivera is that dumb.)
Bateman as WR, or maybe trade back a bit and grab Humphrey for the OLine.
With a competent game manager running the offense and a stellar defense , you can go deep in the playoffs.
This is My line of thinking also.
Cut Alex Smith, reinvest that money into offensive weapons, and have Taylor Heinicke be the starter.
I highly doubt WAS wants to take a huge gamble on a such a small sample size and go into a season with Heinicke as the starter. They just won the division and they’re looking to build on that. Not take a step back.
I do think they would feel comfortable going into the season with Heinicke and Allen as their back-ups, especially since they were Rivera’s last QB2’s in Carolina (Heinicke in 2018 and Allen in 2019), and the former, at least, has won the respect and trust of his WFT teammates.
I wonder if they could get Goff from Detroit without giving up that 19th pick. If Wentz and Darnold are options then Goff must be acceptable. Maybe a second this year and a future third could get him out Detroit.
Assuming Watson and Wilson are not realistic possibilities, and Ryan is too old, the only QB who might be on the market and worth parting with a #1 would be Derek Carr. However, the name’s that now popped up is Marcus Mariota, who’d fit the Newton (and Heinicke) mold of a movement QB. The Pats might be angling for him, too, supposedly, so Mariota might cost a #2 or even a bit more, but I can’t see anyone trading a #1 for him.
Mariota, Heinicke, Allen and Montez sounds like a plausible QB room.