Before last week’s NFL draft, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated mentioned that the Washington Commanders, particularly executive vice president of football for player personnel Marty Hurney, had “advocated” for Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Breer on Hurney ahead of the draft:
And I did get a little late information that Washington exec Marty Hurney has advocated for Richardson.
Washington had remained quiet on any interest in the top quarterbacks. The Commanders did host Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker on a pre-draft visit but had two opportunities to select him and chose defensive backs. But as far as a big move, such as trading up in the draft, it never seemed likely.
Well, according to Mike Jones of The Athletic, the Commanders had discussions with the Raiders about potentially moving up to the No. 7 spot in the event that Richardson was still available.
“There was a lot of talk in the draft that they had made some calls about moving up to No. 7, I was told, but at the same time, it was a lot to give up and then there was questions about who gets to make the call on giving up so much and mortgaging the future,” Jones said Wednesday in an appearance on “The Kevin Sheehan Show” on Team 980.
“This is a team that there is not a lot of clarity in leadership areas because they’re waiting, and maybe by the end of the summer, we’ll have everything resolved as far as knowing who it will be while everything is else is finalized.”
Then Sheehan mentioned the Breer report about Hurney’s interest in Richardson.
“Richardson was the name I had heard as well; when I asked around a lot of people thought that was who it was,” Jones said. “And obviously he did not slip, and they stayed where they were. I think that basically the one guy they would have been willing…….they [some] felt strongly about Will Levis, there were some people who liked Hooker but not enough to go up for anything like that and they obviously passed on him, too. I was told Richardson was probably the target.”
While Washington liked Richardson, it’s doubtful the Commanders would have ever made a bold move in acquiring him via trade due to the current ownership situation. Ultimately, it didn’t matter, as Richardson went No. 4 to the Indianapolis Colts.
