1 undrafted free agent who will make Commanders’ 2024 roster

Plenty of quarterbacks have made a name for themselves despite not hearing their name called during the draft. Kurt Warner and Tony Romo are the two most noteworthy examples, but there are plenty of others that are a part of that group too. And now, former Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman will be looking to join that club after he went undrafted before latching on with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent.

Hartman should have a decent chance to make Washington’s roster after he put together a prolific college career. He first spent five seasons at Wake Forest in an innovative but funky offense that allowed him to chuck it all over the place. Things really clicked for him in his final two seasons there, as he put up 7,929 yards and 77 touchdowns over that stretch.

After those two prodigious campaigns in Winston-Salem, Hartman hit the transfer portal and eventually landed with Notre Dame for his final collegiate season. His numbers weren’t as gaudy in South Bend, but he still played winning football and leaned on the Irish’s outstanding defense. Hartman only totaled 2,689 yards and 24 touchdowns, but he also only threw eight interceptions. On top of that, he set career-highs in completion percentage (63.5 percent) and yards per attempt (8.9 yards).

The Commanders quarterback situation

Most teams carry only two quarterbacks on their active roster, especially with the NFL’s new rule that allows quarterbacks on the practice squad to be eligible to play for their team as an emergency option. But Washington could be an exception for several reasons. For starters, if they were to waive Hartman, they would risk losing him to another team on waivers. He did set the ACC record for career touchdown passes, so it wouldn’t be far-fetched for another team to be interested in him if this ended up happening.

Beyond that, Washington’s quarterback room could use some reinforcements. Daniels looks the part of a franchise quarterback, but he is also still a rookie. Marcus Mariota is a fine backup, but that’s all. He’s also bounced around the league and is no stranger to getting injured. Jeff Driskel is on the roster too, but Hartman may be the more valuable option to keep around in this case.

Mariota and Driskel are also under contract for just the 2024 season. Hartman signed a three-year deal that includes $245,000 guaranteed. If Washington sees Daniels as their quarterback of the future, then they must view Hartman as a potential backup for the future too based on the deal they gave him.

No one wants to see their backup play, but it’s important to have a good one just in case they end up having to take the field. Hartman was as good of a quarterback as there was in college football over the last six seasons. He’s an older prospect without a cannon of an arm, but he’s also a proven winner who takes good care of the football. He can absolutely win a game or two filling in if Daniels were to get hurt.

Hartman has a legitimate path to making the Commanders’ 53-man roster. A strong showing in training camp and the preseason could solidify his fate, and he is absolutely a player to monitor in Washington in between now and the start of the upcoming regular season campaign.