USAT: Washington Wire audio clip

USAT: Washington Wire

Feb 24, 2022

It’s expected to be a busy NFL offseason in 2022. Perhaps more than ever, some of the league’s top quarterbacks are mentioned in potential trades, which rarely happens. Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson — all franchise passers — have each been mentioned as possible trade candidates. - Being mentioned as a possible trade candidate and being traded are two different stories. Ultimately, it isn’t very likely Rodgers or Wilson will be on another team in 2022, while Watson is a different story altogether. - Regardless, there will be trades. San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is almost certain to be traded. Speaking of Garoppolo, Pro Football Focus recently named 15 potential trades to watch this offseason, with 49ers’ passer linked to the Washington Commanders. - Garoppolo has become one of the more polarizing quarterbacks in the NFL, as he once again led the 49ers to multiple playoff victories — throwing an interception in each and a touchdown pass in neither. The most important question is, of course, whether Garoppolo can still lead his team to big wins without Kyle Shanahan scheming things up as well as any coach in the NFL, a stout offensive line and dynamic playmakers in the form of wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle. - Garoppolo made just 10 big-time throws compared to 23 turnover-worthy plays in 2021, almost the inverse of his 20 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions. Samuel’s 83-yard touchdown against the Chicago Bears is a good example of why big-time throws and turnover-worthy plays can serve as a more informed TD/INT ratio: - Per PFF, the compensation for Garoppolo was Washington sending a 2022 fourth-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick to the 49ers. - That’s solid compensation from Washington’s side. The Commanders keep all of their picks on the first two days of the 2022 NFL draft, giving them the opportunity to find a young quarterback and a starting linebacker. As for giving up a second-round pick in 2023, that’s the cost of doing business in the quarterback market. - The Garoppolo trade wasn’t the only one mentioned for the Commanders. PFF also has Washington trading defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick. - The Browns relied on one-year fliers and rookie contract players on the interior of their defensive line, but that approach gave way to a unit that ranked dead last in 2021 with a 40.6 overall grade. Edge defenders Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney looked like a pair of No. 1 overall picks on the outside, but physical teams like the Patriots were able to bully Cleveland up front at times. - Ioannidis has earned 70.0-plus pass-rush grades in five consecutive seasons and enters the final year of a three-year extension signed in 2019. The Commanders signed 2017 first-round interior defender Jonathan Allen to a four-year, $72 million ($18M per year) extension before the 2021 season, and 2018 first-round interior defender Daron Payne is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2022, barring an extension. - With how bad Washington’s defense performed in 2021, continuing to pour resources into the unit while the offense is in need of major improvements would not be wise. The move could be a win-win for all parties involved. - This would give Washington more salary-cap room, but also subtract an important depth piece. Remember, Tim Settle is an unrestricted free agent and Daron Payne is playing the 2022 season on his fifth-year option. -   - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Washington Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Washington Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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