We're now in July, which means that training camp is coming soon.
It's going to be an interesting period for the Washington Commanders, who are entering the next stage of a new regime. It will be general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn's first season leading the Burgundy & Gold, and all eyes will be on Jayden Daniels as he begins to earn his spot as Washington's starting quarterback.
This year's training camp will also feature an overturned roster, half of which is made up of new players and draft picks.
For the past few weeks, Commanders.com has been looking at each position and highlighting some of the challenges they will face until the season begins. We're wrapping things up with the quarterbacks.
On the roster
- Jayden Daniels
- Marcus Mariota
- Jeff Driskel
- Sam Hartman
What to watch
- Can Daniels keep looking impressive in camp? It can be easy to get excited about a player's performance in June practices, when they are getting eased into life as an NFL player, but there was a lot to like about what Daniels put on display while working with the starters and second group. Daniels, who set several program and NCAA records at LSU, looked poised in the pocket and well-versed in Kliff Kingsbury's system, despite still being new to the offense. There were a handful of interceptions, but each mistake was overshadowed by a slew of positive moments, as he delivered passes on time and in places where only his receiver could make the reception. Although there weren't many examples of what Daniels can do as a runner, the plays where he did escape the pocket were memorable. The next step is for Daniels to continue the progress in camp, when he'll face something closer to a live pass-rush with more contact to disrupt his receivers. Quinn said Daniels was a little ahead of where they thought he would be, so there's confidence Daniels can handle the change just fine.
- When will there be a decision about the starting quarterback? Daniels was drafted to be the future of the position for the Commanders, but Quinn has kept quiet about when he will name a starter for the 2024 season. While Daniels has lived up to the reputation that comes with being a No. 2 overall pick, Quinn still wants to encourage competition and have him earn the job. He'll be competing with Mariota, a 10-year veteran who was a starter with the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. It's worth noting, however, that Daniels hasn't done anything that would put his short-term future into question. It's just a matter of Quinn needing to see what he wants from Daniels before making that call. As for when that could happen, we'll have to buckle down and wait, as it could be at the end of camp.
- Should Washington keep two or three quarterbacks? Washington has kept three quarterbacks for the most part since the 2020 season with the exception coming last season, when it kept Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett. Daniels and Mariota are locks to make the roster in 2024, but the question is whether the Commanders will keep Hartman on the roster or release him and give the rest of the league a shot at signing him before bringing him back on the practice squad. There are arguments for and against that decision. Keeping three quarterbacks does mean taking a player away from another position that needs depth, but the team also reportedly invested heavily (in terms of undrafted free agents) to sign Hartman. What's more, other teams were reportedly interested in his services. It's clear that the Commanders want Hartman around, but in what capacity remains to be seen.
