For the Washington Commanders, in an offseason full of instability, it’s good news to even just bring back a valued backup — and in this case it’s the most important backup on the roster.
The Commanders and veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota agreed to a 1-year, $7 million contract for the 2026 season on Monday as NFL free agency opened, making sure Jayden Daniels‘ backup stayed on the roster for a 3rd consecutive season on a 3rd consecutive 1-year contract.
Mariota started 8 games in 2025 and saw extensive action in 11 games as Daniels dealt with a variety of injury issues.
“The Commanders are re-signing backup QB Marcus Mariota on a one-year, $7 million deal, per sources,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account on Monday. “He can make up to $11M with incentives.”
Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, will see his career earnings hit $90 million with his newest contract. He played in 2025 on a 1-year, $8 million contract and in 2024 on a 1-year, $6 million contract.
Marcus Mariota One of the NFL’s Elite Backup QBs
Since leaving the Titans following the 2019 season, Mariota has been considered one of the NFL’s top backup quarterbacks after stints with the Las Vegas Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles. In his 1 chance as a full-time starter with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, Mariota went 5-8 in 13 games before he was benched for Desmond Ridder.
The Commanders endured a nightmare season in 2025, going 5-12 and missing the playoffs just 1 year after they went 12-5 and made it to the NFC Championship Game for the 1st time since 1991.
While Mariota went 2-6 in 8 starts filling in for Daniels, it’s hard to put that all on him, as he was playing with the NFL’s worst defense. Of the 6 losses with Mariota as the starter, 4 of them came by one score or less, including 2 overtime losses.
Mariota actually played his best game against arguably the NFL’s best defense, going 28-of-50 passes for 294 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception while adding 55 rushing yards on 10 carries in a 27-26 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos.
Possible Option to Start for Several Teams
Mariota staying with the Commanders likely signals there wasn’t a market for him to even be a fill-in starter anywhere else, although his name was tossed about for several possible teams.
Most notably, ESPN’s Seth Walder predicted the Kansas City Chiefs would turn to Mariota as the placeholder for 2-time NFL MVP and 3-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes until he’s able to return from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2025 season.
“Mahomes has indicated he wants to be back for Week 1, and perhaps that will happen,” Walder wrote. “But any prediction about his Week 1 status is just a guess, so I imagine that the Chiefs would want to be cautious with Mahomes, given his importance to the franchise. If that is the case, they’d want a reliable backup who can ideally win a few games while Mahomes finishes up his recovery. I believe Mariota fits the bill … He has a long history of being solid, which is essentially what Kansas City needs — a player who can keep the team afloat in Mahomes’ absence but is willing to be a backup and won’t be overly expensive.”
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