Sam Hartman

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Washington secured solid backup quarterback depth by inking Sam Hartman to a $1.0M AAV deal over two years, earning a C+ CVI that reflects fair market value for a developmental signal-caller. At just $2.0M total, this represents a low-risk investment in a young quarterback who showed flashes during his college career at Wake Forest and Notre Dame, though his NFL ceiling remains uncertain given limited professional experience. The two-year structure provides Washington flexibility to evaluate Hartman's progress while maintaining cost control — if he develops into a capable backup or spot starter, the deal becomes a bargain, but if he struggles, the financial commitment is minimal. This contract aligns with how teams typically handle unproven quarterbacks who need seasoning, offering enough guaranteed money to retain talent without breaking the bank. The Commanders get a legitimate camp arm and potential developmental piece at a price point that won't hamstring their salary cap, making this a sensible depth move that could pay dividends if Hartman's college production translates to the professional level.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Sam's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Sam Hartman enters the NFL as an undrafted developmental quarterback with no regular-season snaps and an uphill climb to prove he belongs. His current-season numbers are historically poor even by rookie standards, earning him a D+ overall grade. Most developmental quarterbacks at this stage struggle, but Hartman's early returns raise legitimate questions about his readiness. His 29.9 passer rating sits far below the NFL average of 77.2, and a 54.3 completion percentage trails the league benchmark of 64.2 percent meaningfully. At 4.5 yards per attempt against an NFL average of 6.9, he's not generating enough downfield production to stress defenses. His 69.0 passing yards per game is alarming, reflecting limited opportunity but also limited efficiency when given chances. The trajectory tells a concerning story — he graded D+ in 2024 and has slipped to an F in 2025, which is the wrong direction for a young quarterback seeking a foothold. Comparisons to late-round developmental prospects like David Blough or Kyle Sloter feel apt, players who showed flashes but couldn't sustain consistency. Hartman's college pedigree at Wake Forest and Notre Dame suggests some foundational processing ability, but the professional game has exposed real limitations quickly. For Hartman to salvage a long-term roster spot, he must improve accuracy and decision-making before next preseason. Scouts will watch whether he can push his completion rate toward 60 percent and his yards per attempt above 6.0 in controlled environments. Without meaningful improvement, his NFL window could close before it fully opens.

How Sam Compares at the Position

Sam Hartman ranks 78th of 106 graded quarterbacks by performance. That slots Sam between Easton Stick (D+) just ahead and Desmond Ridder (D+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Sam Hartman's public standing heading into 2026 has bottomed out at a D- sentiment grade, reflecting a near-universal consensus that he is a roster fringe player rather than a legitimate NFL quarterback prospect. The narrative driving that perception is unambiguous: with Jayden Daniels entrenched as Washington's franchise cornerstone, Hartman has been reduced to incidental mentions in roster-overview coverage, with media treating him as emergency-backup depth rather than a developmental asset worth tracking. That bleak perception is consistent with his D+ performance grade — in the 2025 season, he appeared in just 3 games, leaving him with virtually no résumé to counter the dismissive framing. The Commanders' decision to rest Daniels for the final three games of the 2025 regular season only deepened Hartman's marginalization, signaling organizational confidence in their starter while offering Hartman no meaningful stage to rehabilitate his standing. Washington's selection of Athan Kaliakmanis at quarterback in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft then landed as the clearest signal yet from the front office, effectively compressing the roster hierarchy and raising genuine cut risk for Hartman before a snap of preseason football has been played. The team's offseason activity — adding bodies at defensive tackle, offensive line, and running back — suggests a roster-building posture that leaves no political capital reserved for developing a third-string quarterback. The bottom line is that Hartman's narrative sits at its lowest point: a player fighting to survive preseason cuts, not to win a starting job, and the media has largely stopped pretending otherwise.