4 QB situations worse than the Carolina Panthers this offseason

Washington Commanders

This is probably going to get resolved at some stage during the offseason. But the newly named Washington Commanders are also in the midst of a dire quarterback situation.

Striking out on Dwayne Haskins with their first-round selection set them back tremendously, with former Carolina Panthers player Taylor Heinicke forced to man the plate after veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered an early injury in 2021.

Heinicke is a serviceable backup but hasn’t shown the necessary consistency to be considered an NFL starter. Something that could arguably be said about Sam Darnold after another season littered with erratic production under center.

Ron Rivera and other primary decision-makers in Washington will know how high the stakes are next time around. Another losing season with no playoff football could lead to some big changes this time next year, so it’s imperative they find the correct quarterback that can provide immediate assistance.

As head coach Matt Rhule has found out to his cost since joining the Panthers, finding a quarterback is not easy. His lack of ability to properly evaluate pro talent at the most important position on the field is causing some significant complications, which could lead Scott Fitterer and Dan Morgan to become more influential as a result.

Rivera was blessed with Cam Newton under center more often than not during his time in Carolina. But these same doubts could come in his direction if he gets another signal-caller wrong in 2022.