Sam Howell’s first season as an NFL starter with the Washington Commanders had everything you would expect. There were some highs (starting 2-0), and there were also some lows as the Commanders finished the year on an eight-game losing streak.

But Washington knew what it was getting into having Howell, who prior to Week 1 of this year had just one regular season start, be “the” guy going forward. Howell would finish his season throwing for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions while completing 63.4 percent of his passes. Now, as the offseason for Howell begins, what are his plans going forward?

“I think the main thing for me is take some time and go back and watch every game from the season just kind of reflect and take a lot of notes,” Howell said. “Just try to find some things that I really want to try and focus on in the offseason, try to get better there for next year. So that’s pretty much what I’ll do, I’ll go back home to Charlotte North Carolina, get with my trainer down there and start getting to work here pretty soon.

Howell will have some good things on film and some not-so-good things, but that is part and parcel of being a young quarterback in the NFL. With so much change expected, once Howell does return from his offseason workings, things are likely going to look vastly different. A new head coach will be the biggest change as Commanders’ owner Josh wants a quick, yet thorough process when looking for the next leader of the organization. But for now, with the wounds and shortcomings of the season still fresh, Howell will take some time away, learn, and get better in preparation for preseason.

As Washington holds the No. 2 overall pick, Howell’s tenure as starting quarterback has come into question as a draft that is littered with talented quarterbacks looms large with the Commanders in a great position to have their pick of the talent. That is out of Howell’s control and all he can do is focus on himself and his game in a bid to come back better for training camp, and going by his words, he seems determined to build on what was an up-and-down season.

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Commanders Are Reportedly Close To Hiring New GM

With the Washington Commanders having new ownership and a new vision for the future of the storied NFL franchise, the team is expected to make some major moves during the offseason in order to get one step closer to righting the ship in the nation’s capital.

One rumor that has been floating around the league, regardless of the offseason plan for the Commanders, was the team going hard after Bill Belichick, who officially parted ways with the New England Patriots after 24 years on Thursday.

Even though Belichick is now officially a free agent and an attractive option for teams around the league that are looking for a new head coach who can immediately create a culture of winning, it appears the Commanders may be headed in a different direction.

According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Washington won’t be going after Belichick after all and appears to be on the verge of bringing in a new general manager, with the search down to two candidates, Ian Cunningham and Adam Peters.

One reason the Commanders might be heading in this direction is that the team may have been given a heads-up about Belichick’s intentions or at least where the legendary coach might be leaning in terms of where he’d like to go next, with Washington not being an option he likes.

Another possibility is Belichick might come at a high price that the team is not willing to pay, which wouldn’t be all that surprising, as he’ll almost certainly be asking for a lucrative long-term deal for his services.