The Commanders are embarking on a fresh chapter under the guidance of Dan Quinn, signaling a potential overhaul at the quarterback position.
In an interview with NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero during the Annual League Meeting, Quinn delved into the prospect of Washington opting for a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft or in subsequent rounds in April.
“I would say it’d be fair to envision we’d be taking a quarterback,” Quinn stated. “To say where it’ll be happening, I think that’s a better question for (general manager) Adam (Peters). As the next weeks unfold there’ll be a lot of discussion, and that’s why we’ve had a great trip out seeing some guys, we’ll do that some more in the weeks ahead, but I’ve enjoyed that process with Adam, and going through it. He’s somebody that is an absolute expert at this position, what it looks like, where to go, and so going through that process has been really cool.”
As Quinn collaborates with Peters in preparation for the April draft, they await the decision of the Chicago Bears, who hold the No. 1 overall pick. Following the trade of Justin Fields to the Steelers, speculation points toward USC prospect Caleb Williams as the likely top pick. However, the subsequent picks remain uncertain.
Will it be LSU QB Jayden Daniels or North Carolina’s Drake Maye?
While Washington must wait for the draft to unfold, Quinn emphasizes that there is ongoing deliberation regarding their potential pick.
“I still have a lot of work to do into that space,” he remarked. “Unfortunately, Adam’s way further ahead from going through it, but we really dug in hard on our own team, and then the free agent process. And now as we’re getting finalized and on the draft side of things, we still have more visits, people to come in, it’s been more time. So, I’d say we’re getting closer, but to say we’re there yet, not yet.”
Peters, in his inaugural year as general manager, enters the NFL draft following a busy month in March, during which he secured acquisitions such as QB Marcus Mariota, RB Austin Ekeler, TE Zach Ertz, LB Bobby Wagner, and safety Jeremy Chinn in free agency.
With former 2023 starter Sam Howell traded to Seattle, the current Washington QB room comprises Mariota and Jake Fromm. Despite holding the premium No. 2 pick, Quinn reveals that the team is open to trade offers.
“Yes, I would say it’s ringing, and because, like you said, of the talent of the group this year,” Quinn confirmed. “And so I would anticipate him fielding these calls as it goes through, and usually it’s not necessarily later than No. 6 or 7, but those people who are usually in the top four or five, there’s somebody that somebody has targeted, and I think it’s mostly like ‘Well, I’ve got to take a shot!’ A lot of times it’s no, like ‘Thanks for calling’ but it is part of the process, and you have to do your due diligence to listen and to find out just to make sure, like is there something that you just couldn’t refuse?
“I certainly walked past it in the hallway when I was with the Cowboys, years ago for a trade that involved Herschel Walker and many draft picks and changed a lot of their organization. So, I think anybody in personnel with the skills of Adam, they’re going to listen, but there’s only so many things that you’d consider and it’d better be really good.”
