The Washington Commanders' 2025 season didn't live up to the hype created by their 2024 season.
The injuries to Jayden Daniels were a big reason why, and they often thrust Marcus Mariota into the spotlight.
Mariota wasn't the reason the Commanders struggled. Generally, he was solid.
And really, Mariota showed his value to a Washington team that will want to return to contention in the season ahead.
A former No. 2 overall pick himself, Mariota proved how crucial a good backup QB is behind Daniels.
"The Commanders would have been exponentially worse if Mariota hadn't been available in relief," NFL.com's Nick Shook wrote on Friday.
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Mariota is set to be a free agent, but it doesn't behoove the Commanders to let him get away.
"Mariota and Washington have taken the noncommittal approach over the last two seasons, with the quarterback signing consecutive one-year deals," Shook writes. "He received a $2 million raise last March and is once again approaching free agency after making eight starts and appearing in 11 games, his highest totals in both categories since 2022. He posted respectable numbers and wasn't the reason the Commanders lost most of his starts. This regime just got a season-long taste of life without a star quarterback; the powers that be should know quite well how valuable Mariota can be for them."
Mariota also likely relates well to Daniels, who was the No. 2 pick in 2024. There were moments of rising stardom for Mariota early on before his career took on more of a journeyman flavor. He can help Daniels reach the heights he's destined to reach.
But to do that, Mariota has to stick around. Washington should figure out what it'll take to make that happen.
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