Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell is locked in as the team’s starting moving forward. As a result, teams around the league have reportedly started exploring the possibility of a Jacoby Brissett trade ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.
Brissett competed with Howell to be the Commanders’ starting quarterback this summer. While both signal-callers played well, Washington ultimately decided to roll with Howell and use the 2023 season to determine if he could be a potential franchise quarterback. The results haven’t been promising.
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Entering NFL games today, the Commanders’ offense ranks 20th in scoring (20 points per game), 19th in passing (211.7 pass yards per game) and Howell is 25th in ESPN QBR (41.5). Despite the second-year quarterback being on pace to shatter the NFL’s single-season record for sacks taken, Washington has shown no indication it wants to make a quarterback change.
- Jacoby Brissett contract: $8.5 million cap hit in 2023, NFL free agent in 2024
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, multiple teams have called the Commanders with inquiries on Brissett’s availability. Signed to a lucrative one-year contract this offseason, the 30-year-old quarterback hasn’t played a single snap during the regular season entering Week 8.
With the Commanders seemingly on the brink of conducting a small fire sale at the NFL trade deadline, the possibility of Brissett being traded could have ramifications ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.
Jacoby Brissett trade landing spots
If the Commanders are truly willing to move Brissett, which would be risky given the record-setting number of hits Howell has taken, several teams stand out as potential landing spots. Brissett is the best quarterback available ahead of the NFL trade deadline, with three teams that stand out as ideal fits.
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- Cleveland Browns: There’s no better potential fit at the NFL trade deadline than Jacoby Brissett returning to the Cleveland Browns. With Deshaun Watson suspended for the majority of last season, Brissett posted an 88.9 QB rating with a 12-6 TD-INT line and a 64% completion rate. He’s very familiar with Kevin Stefanski’s offense, already has chemistry with the Browns’ receiving corps and has outplayed Watson in Cleveland. Brissett is the ideal insurance policy amid the Watson injury saga and he could be the quarterback who gives the Browns a shot at maximizing one of the best NFL defenses.
- Philadelphia Eagles: At first glance, Brissett to the Philadelphia Eagles might not make sense. While Jalen Hurts isn’t playing at an MVP-caliber level this season, he’s the focal point of Philadelphia’s offense. However, Hurrts is playing through a knee injury right now that required a brace in Week 7. He does have a history of injuries and losing him would be devastating for the Eagles’ offense. While intradivision trades are rare, Brissett would be a massive upgrade over Marcus Mariota. If the Eagles want an insurance policy for Hurts, Brissett is the best quarterback available.
- New York Jets: Entering Week 8, the New York Jets have won two consecutive games and find themselves in the NFL playoff picture. Trading for Kirk Cousins wouldn’t appease Aaron Rodgers and the Minnesota Vikings won’t move their Pro Bowl quarterback. However, Brissett is an intriguing option. While he doesn’t have familiarity with Nathaniel Hackett’s offense, the veteran has easily outproduced Zach Wilson in recent years. Brissett would unlock standout wide receiver Garrett Wilson and help make the Jets’ offense far more explosive. Unfortunately for the team’s outlook, the front office and coaching staff seem very committed to Wilson for the rest of the year.
