1. SAM HOWELL, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Howell comes enters the NFL with no expectations other than to develop behind
Carson Wentz, given where he was drafted. The good news — for Howell’s sake — is Wentz's extensive injury history could thrust the rookie into playing time, and the Commanders have no dead money committed to Wentz after 2022. That couldn’t put less pressure on Howell to transition from the college-y offense he ran at North Carolina to the pro game.
As important as all the above is the talent the Commanders already employ offensively. PFF ranked their offensive line
sixth by the end of the 2021 season. Even though they lost
Brandon Scherff, they added
Andrew Norwell and can expect a leap in play from second-year right tackle
Sam Cosmi. Howell also pairs up with his top collegiate target in
Dyami Brown in what’s now a loaded receiving corps after the Commanders added
Jahan Dotson in Round 1. That’s the best supporting cast of any quarterback on this list.