It's a quarterback.
Not that anyone doubts the Washington Commanders are drafting a passer on April 25, but coach Dan Quinn told reporters at the NFL meetings that Washington would select one.
But as for which one and when, the guessing game continues.
Listening to Quinn, it sounds like general manager Adam Peters' call with healthy input from staff. But for the first time since Bobby Beathard and Charley Casserly used 1980s drafts to craft three Super Bowl winners, Washington has a GM making the call independently.
No more owner coming off his yacht to pick a passer nobody wanted in Dwayne Haskins. Or an owner who overrode everyone's decision to take quarterback Patrick Ramsey. No more puppet GMs like Vinny Cerrato or Bruce Allen, or even Ron Rivera's cast of yes men that defied sanity in selections.
Casserly had a big say in picks after Beathard's departure, but surrendered to new coach Norv Turner to take Heath Shuler. Later, Turner blamed Casserly for the pick as if Trent Dilfer would have been a better choice. Thirty years removed, it's still he said-he said over that blame game.
This is Peters' call, though he's not deaf to coaches. It would take steel to choose someone over the staff's choice at No. 2 overall. That's a career-backbreaker if failing.
Quinn said there's no decision yet over choosing Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels. Nor is there a Plan B should Caleb Williams suddenly be available. And, Plan C is still being worked multiple ways, thanks to other teams calling over what it would take for Washington to trade down.
As inviting as moving down might be, trading away Sam Howell precludes doing so. Washington must get a quarterback in the first round or fans will revolt and the former FedEx Field will once more overflow with visiting fans. Peters isn't dumb enough to enter the season with Marcus Mariota as the starter.
No, Washington must pick a passer. But, which one? Can the Commanders opt for a J.J. McCarthy or Bo Nix in return for three first-rounders?
If Washington comes away convinced Maye or Daniels is the one, then take him and don't overthink it. But, if the Commanders aren't sold completely, then moving down can work. Just not too far, because McCarthy might go fourth as his draft stock soars. That leaves hoping a good prospect blossoms.
Then again, there's no certainty Maye or Daniels succeed. The NFL draft is really one big guess. The chances of Peters finding another seventh-rounder like Brock Purdy? Sorry, you only get one of those in life.
For now, endless questions over who the Commanders will select are moot. They don't know and that's OK. There's still plenty of time to make a smart move...or a bad one.
