How will new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury impact the Washington Commanders’ search for a quarterback this offseason?
Kingsbury was hired two weeks ago and introduced last week as Dan Quinn’s new offensive coordinator. When Kingsbury was asked what he looked for in a quarterback, he responded, “The Chiefs quarterback.”
Kingsbury was joking, sort of. It was he who discovered Mahomes and recruited him to Texas Tech, where he coached him in college. Kingsbury knows there is no one like Mahomes, but the skillset he’s looking for is clear.
For Washington’s next quarterback, Kingsbury, Quinn and GM Adam Peters are looking for a quarterback who can make all the throws, make plays with his legs, and make plays off schedule.
The good news is the Commanders hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and there are three quarterbacks who fit that description: Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina) and Jayden Daniels (LSU).
Williams is expected to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears, but you can’t rule out Washington making a move up to trade for Williams. Not only is Williams from Washington, D.C., but Kingsbury coached him last season at USC.
In a mock draft from Josh Edwards of CBS Sports, he has a trade involving the top three quarterbacks — but it’s not Washington or Chicago.
Edwards has the Bears going with Caleb Williams and Daniels landing in Washington:
Kliff Kingsbury has been working with the dual-threat capable Caleb Williams. Jayden Daniels has proven even more capable of making an impact on the ground. Coming off a Heisman-winning season, Daniels played better than any quarterback in the nation. He parlays that into a lucrative rookie contract in Washington.
About that trade, the New England Patriots moved down, allowing the Minnesota Vikings to move up to the No. 3 selection and take Maye.
It’s difficult to imagine the Vikings spending big money to retain Kirk Cousins and still trading up for a rookie passer. Free agency opens in a little more than three weeks, and Cousins will likely have plenty of options.