Has the Washington Football Team Had Its Quarterback Solution in Place All Along?

As an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion four years ago, no one has ever thought of Taylor Heinicke as the answer at the quarterback position.

But, for the Washington Football Team, Heinicke keeps finding himself in position to solidify that vital spot on the roster and he hasn’t disappointed.

Last season, Washington won the NFC East and snuck into the playoffs despite a 7-9 record. Not many expected them to do much in the playoffs anyway, but those expectations went down even more when veteran quarterback Alex Smith was unavailable for the team’s matchup with eventual Super Bowl champions Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.

Heinicke stepped in and played well, though. He completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for over 300 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Washington only trailed by two entering the fourth quarter in that game and only lost by eight.

Smith retired in the offseason and, despite the strong performance, Washington didn’t really consider Heinicke for the starting job. The team reportedly explored trades for big-name veterans like Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Deshaun Watson before deciding against giving up the assets those deals would require. Instead, they brought in another solid if unspectacular veteran to replace Smith in Ryan Fitzpatrick, with Heinicke backing him up.

Heinicke didn’t last long on the bench, though. An injury in a week one loss will keep Fitzpatrick out 6-8 weeks and Washington once again turned to its unknown backup.

Heinicke responded by leading Washington to a 30-29 win over division-rival New York. Heinicke threw a late interception that put the Giants in position to win, but he got the ball back and drove Washington for the game-winning field goal.

He finished the game with 336 yards and two touchdowns while completing more than 70 percent of his passes. More impressively, he continues to win over teammates and fans with his improvement and composure. He even drew a pretty major comparison from a teammate.

“He reminded me of [Seattle Seahawks QB] Russell Wilson,” running back J.D. McKissic, who spent three years in Seattle, told ESPN. “He was calm; he wanted to make a play. He wanted to do anything it took. The only thing on his mind was winning.”

Even if Fitzpatrick does come back from injury, he might have a tough time replacing Heinicke. Fitzpatrick has had a good career, but he’s not immune to inconsistent play. If Washington is winning with Heinicke – and CBS Sports already called him a “clear upgrade” over Fitzpatrick – then don’t expect them to be in any rush to switch back when their former starter is healthy.

But what about beyond this season? Washington has been looking for a quarterback of the future for years, and their most recent, former first round pick Dwayne Haskins, did not work out. Heinicke has had two solid starts, but would Washington already start thinking about him as a long-term option?

He’s only 28-years-old, and has not played much in his four seasons, so he has little mileage in the league. He’s shown that he’s unafraid of big moments and done a good job of getting teammates to rally around him.

“He’s always ready for his moment and I love guys who are always ready for their moment … always prepared,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin told Sports Illustrated. “We’re lucky to have Taylor and I know he’s just going to continue to grow and help us going forward.”

Washington as an organization has never been afraid to chase big name stars. Former MVP Cam Newton is still on the market, and he had his greatest career successes playing for Washington coach Ron Rivera in Carolina. Watson and Rodgers are also both sure to be available either this season or in the offseason, so Washington should be expected to inquire about both until their current situations are resolved.

But what if they’ve already found their guy? The NFC East continues to be as wide open as any division in football. Washington proved last season that, with their strong defense, they just need a quarterback who can limit mistakes to compete for the division title. Heinicke has shown the ability to play mostly mistake-free football while improving his accuracy and finding his playmakers in a short amount of time.

If he continues that formula, expect him to get Washington back to the playoffs and, potentially, finally head into a season in the top spot on the depth chart.