Alex Smith

This one was pre-ordained after 36-year-old Smith's miraculous recovery from a 2018 compound leg fracture that ended up requiring 17 surgeries due to a host of complications. The football was not necessarily scintillating — never an aggressive player, Smith was understandably even more conservative in 2020 — but Smith was the best quarterback on the Football Team's division-winning roster. Smith is undecided on returning in 2021. The Football Team has signaled it will probably go another direction at starter, but Smith's experience and brainpower would be invaluable in a backup. 

Washington offered its first- and third-round picks for Matthew Stafford before he was traded to the Rams. They've also been linked to Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson, and Sam Darnold, though none are a lock to be dealt. Washington should be among the most aggressive teams on the quarterback market this offseason, but they may have to settle for another year of Smith if a deal doesn't get done. Dak Prescott, Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston, and Ryan Fitzpatrick headline this year's free agent QB class.

The Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala said the Football Team's offer for Stafford "was better for the Lions this year than what the Rams offered." The Rams landed Stafford on Saturday in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick, a 2022 first-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick, and Jared Goff. Apparently Washington's offer for Stafford wasn't as loaded on the back end, but may have included a bigger draft pick haul for this year. It's noteworthy that the Football Team made an aggressive push for Stafford -- they're clearly not committed to heading into the 2021 season with Alex Smith as the team's unquestioned starter. It makes sense: there's a real argument that, by season's end, Taylor Heinicke was Washington's best QB option by a long shot. Ron Rivera's team could be a dark horse to sell out in pursuit of Deshaun Watson in the coming months. Washington could also land a free agent signal caller. Unrestricted free agent QBs this offseason include Ryan Fitzpatrick, Cam Newton, Tyrod Taylor, and Mitchell Trubisky. 

Taylor Heinicke will get the call against the Bucs' tough but vulnerable pass defense. Smith did not look ready for prime time during his Week 17 return and apparently felt worse as the week progressed. This is the right call for the Football Team, but also a complete Hail Mary. Heinicke did look better than Dwayne Haskins in Week 16, but that isn't much of a bar to clear. All roads to a Football Team upset begin and end with the defense.