Marcus Mariota, Commanders
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Washington Commanders QB Marcus Mariota reacting after an NFL game.
Things didn’t work out for Marcus Mariota as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
As a backup, Mariota could still have many years left in his career.
After 2 seasons as one of the NFL’s most capable and dutiful backups to Jayden Daniels on the Washington Commanders, Mariota could have a lot of value in the free agent market as a high-profile backup.
Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman predicts the Los Angeles Rams will pursue Mariota in free agency, where he would be counted on to be a quality backup to reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.
Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, has the spent the last 2 seasons with the Commanders on a pair of 1-year contracts. He made $6 million in 2024 and $8 million in 2025, which makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid backups.
The Rams made the NFC Championship Game following the 2025 season, with the 37-year-ld Stafford having the best season of his career. The Rams’ current backup quarterbacks are Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett.
“Mariota, 32, is a good indication of just how slim the quarterback options are in free agency,” Auman wrote. “He went 2-6 this year for Washington and is 9-17 as a starter since 2019, yet he’s the third- or fourth-best passer available. He had 10 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 2025, and the hope is that your backup quarterback can help you go .500 while a starter is out, but he hasn’t been there in a while.”
Mariota Forced Into Service in Nightmare Season
The Commanders endured a nightmare season in 2025, going 5-12 and missing the playoffs just 1 year after they went 12-5 and made it to the NFC Championship Game for the 1st time since 1991.
Washington’s season ended up being defined by injuries. Daniels missed 10 games due to various injuries while NFL All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin missed 7 games due to injuries after he signed a 3-year, $97 million contract extension just before the season.
While Mariota went 2-6 as the starter, it’s hard to put that all on him as he was playing with the NFL’s worst defense. Of the 6 losses, 4 of them came by one score or less, including 2 overtime losses.
Mariota actually played his best game against arguably the NFL’s best defense, going 28-of-50 passes for 294 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception while adding 55 rushing yards on 10 carries in a 27-26 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos.
Commanders Might Want to Change Backup QB
The Commanders might look at an upgrade at backup quarterback if they think Mariota isn’t up to the task or they might just want to change things up as they rid themselves of as much of the stink off last year’s team as possible.
From 1 perspective, there are probably backup quarterbacks the Commanders could get to go 2-6, and for quite a bit less than the $8 million they paid Mariota in 2025.
Besides that, none of it really matters if Daniels can’t stay healthy. Another season like the one the Commanders had in 2025 also likely guarantees a coaching change that sends head coach Dan Quinn packing after 3 seasons.
Quinn fired both Kingsbury, his offensive coordinator, as well as defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. following the season.