Mitchell Trubisky will be the starting QB for the Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders have been aggressively looking around the candy shop for a quarterback in 2022. Ron Rivera has lobbied for Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, and the other 30 NFL starting QBs. Rivera hasn’t found his new starting signal-caller, at least from our angle.

Rivera might have called former Saints head coach Mike Ditka about his decision to trade all his draft choices for Ricky Williams.

Rivera will certainly look at the free-agent pool and ponder drafting a QB in the 2022 NFL draft, as well. So, who should we expect Washington to ink as their new starting QB? Well, I believe it will be Mitchell Trubisky. The ESPN analyst Dan Orlosky also dubbed Washington as a very favorable destination for the former Bears first-round pick. Here is why Trubisky needs to be in a Washington uniform soon.

• Top free agent fit

I wholeheartedly believe Trubisky is the right choice for Ron Rivera out of the other free-agent options. Mike Tomlin wants an athletic QB and I expect Tomlin to target Marcus Mariota or a QB early in the draft. I really believe Jameis Winston, who’s the top free agent QB, to pick the familiar, talented Saints as his 2022 home.

Trubisky is the best combination of talent and age after Mariota and Winston. He was also in the playoffs with a Chicago Bears team that is less talented than the Commanders. Not only was Trubisky showing growth in his last days as the Bears starting QB, but he grew physically and mentally behind Allen. Rivera also has ties to the Bills staff, so he will know the work ethic that Trubisky displays.

I really expect Trubisky to be head over heels to sign with the Commanders over a team like the Jets and Giants. I do have to admit that the Broncos could be the most competitive team to sign Trubisky (assuming Winston and Mariota are off elsewhere). He could prefer the top-end weapons on Washington and weaker competition in the NFC East over the AFC West.

Trubisky might catch a lot of heat for being drafted over Patrick Mahomes, but a slightly improved Trubisky from 2020 with the Commanders should be enough to pin them as a wildcard team (Perhaps over Philly).

• lack of QB trade options

The world knows that the Commanders will not get Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, or Kirk Cousins. A-Rod will likely have a say in where he lands and I expect him to pick the Broncos, Saints, or his positive home with the Packers. If they have an opportunity to get Jimmy G or Baker Mayfield, I expect Rivera to prefer signing Trubisky honestly. Trubisky isn’t only a potentially better QB than Garoppollo and Mayfield, but a Jimmy G or Mayfield trade would cost Rivera quite a bit.

• lack of a top end QB in the NFL draft

I believe the Washington Commanders are shopping around for one big reason. They want a proven QB right now and they know that there isn’t an “Andrew Luck” or “Cam Newton” like QB in the 2022 NFL Draft. Malik Willis would be an enticing option, but I see a team trading up for him in the Top 10. They could grab Sam Howell at 11, but I still see Rivera handing the keys to Trubisky in year one. Orlovsky (ESPN analyst) wants to see the Commanders ink Trubisky and still draft a QB. If they go down that road, I imagine Trubisky winning the starting QB battle in “year one”.