Commanders, Marcus Mariota deal creates potentially ironic QB situation

The Commanders and veteran signal-caller Marcus Mariota agreed to a one-year deal on Tuesday, presumably giving them a former Heisman Trophy winner to serve as a backup or third stringer in 2024.

Mariota won the hardware in 2014 for the Oregon Ducks, was selected second overall in 2015 by the Tennessee Titans and spent the first five seasons of his career with the AFC South club. The 30-year-old made 61 of his 74 career starts with the Titans and helped them reach the AFC Divisional playoffs during the 2017 campaign.

Mariota was Derek Carr's seldom-used backup with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 and 2021 before he signed with the Atlanta Falcons in March 2022. Mariota started the first 13 games of the season for the Falcons before then-rookie Desmond Ridder took over for the final four contests.

He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles last March and made just three appearances off the bench behind Jalen Hurts.

Sam Howell spent three seasons with the University of North Carolina from 2019-21, serving as Drake Maye's predecessor under center. The two players were teammates during Howell's junior 2021 campaign, Maye's freshman year.

The 23-year-old was selected by the Commanders in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and made his only start (and appearance) that season in Week 18.

Howell beat out veteran Jacoby Brissett for the starting job last summer and was QB1 throughout the 2023 season.

Washington went just 4-13 with the former Tar Heel under center, as he led the NFL in pass attempts (612), interceptions (21) and times sacked (65).

Maye had a huge 2022 season for UNC, winning the ACC Player of the Year Award and ACC Offensive Player of the Year while finishing 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting. In 2023, he posted a 63.3 completion percentage for 3,608 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while adding 112 rushing attempts for 449 yards and nine scores.

Sam Fortier of The Washington Post opined that the Mariota news doesn't necessarily mean the Commanders are leaning toward LSU's Jayden Daniels over Maye. He also noted that Howell's future with the organization is now "in question."