There were numerous reasons behind Ron Rivera’s downfall during his lackluster four-year stint with the Washington Commanders, but none more glaring than his inability to effectively address the quarterback dilemma.
Missed Opportunities and Costly Gambles
It all began when Rivera bypassed the opportunity to draft Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa in 2020. The situation snowballed from there. Trading for Carson Wentz turned into an equally disastrous move, wasting valuable resources on a quarterback who simply couldn’t rise to the occasion. Rivera’s final big bet—placing faith in former fifth-round pick Sam Howell—showed initial promise but eventually waned under tough conditions.
Rivera inevitably paid the price with his job. Enter Adam Peters, the new general manager who wasted no time in injecting optimism by selecting Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels, showing flashes of brilliance throughout the offseason, appears poised to lead a much-needed revival for the Commanders.
- Turned down drafting Herbert or Tagovailoa
- Traded for Carson Wentz, a costly mistake
- Final gamble on Sam Howell fell short
The Road Not Taken: Cam Newton
Rivera had another option at the start of his tenure in D.C. When the Carolina Panthers released Cam Newton after Matt Rhule took over, speculation ran rampant about a potential reunion. Instead, Rivera decided to roll the dice with Ryan Fitzpatrick over the 2015 NFL MVP.
Newton spent an extended period on the sidelines before signing with the New England Patriots, but COVID-19 restrictions hindered his ability to regain his former glory. It’s a decision that still stings Newton, who vented his frustrations recently on his 4th-and-1 podcast.
“I don’t know. It hurt me, though. I said at the bare minimum, ‘Washington would come f—k with me.’ And it wasn’t just Ron Rivera. It was Marty Hurney. It was Ryan Vermillion. Everybody. It was the Panthers reincarnated in Washington. So to not get no call, like, I don’t know why. But I don’t know. Whether I was hurt or whatever, it f–ked with me, though. … You got this coach—a Coach of the Year, who got there not just on his own but with your help. … And then, to not get a call? It was one of those situations where I was like, ‘Okay. I see what’s happening here.'” —Cam Newton
The What-If Game
What if Rivera had signed Newton? The head coach and other decision-makers had their reasons for overlooking the celebrated player, considering his battle with injuries. Fitzpatrick, alas, didn’t fare better, going down after just 16 snaps of his first game, sidelining him for the 2020 season. This set off a series of ill-fated decisions at the quarterback position, plunging the Commanders back into the doldrums.
The Aftermath
Newton’s NFL days dwindled, with a brief yet explosive return to the Panthers in 2021. Now, he’s carving out a new path in media, earning kudos for his candid and captivating style. But it’s clear he still holds a grudge against Rivera and Marty Hurney for not giving him another shot.
The revolving door of risky gambles and underperformers at the quarterback position under Rivera’s watch is a case study in missed opportunities and what-could-have-beens. The impending era with Jayden Daniels brings a glimmer of hope, but fans and analysts alike are left pondering what difference Cam Newton might have made.
