Marcus Mariota, a seasoned journeyman, agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $10 million with the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, adding him to the team. At first glance, the agreement appears to be exactly what it says: it provides offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury with a new backup quarterback for Washington and further indicates that Sam Howell, the starter from the previous season, is leaving. However, if you look closer, Mariota’s signing provides insightful clues regarding the Commanders’ possible preferences when deciding between Jayden Daniels of LSU and Drake Maye of North Carolina for the No. 2 overall pick in the April draft.
“Signing Mariota sure seems like a sign Washington is leaning towards Jayden Daniels,” Finlay wrote on Twitter. In order to minimize the necessity for drastic schematic changes in the event of an injury, teams frequently acquire backups with skill sets comparable to those of their starter. Given the inclusion of a rookie quarterback in this situation, the backup needs to be an experienced mentor with a wealth of knowledge. The veteran is aware of the difficulties the novice will encounter, thus having a mirrored skill set only helps. Put Mariota in, then quickly put Daniels in.
