The Washington Football Team opened this season with a first round draft choice at quarterback and finished with an undrafted free agent as quarterback.

Despite the head-spinning turn of events, there’s optimism in the Washington Football camp looking ahead with that finishing quarterback, Taylor Heinicke, as perhaps the signal caller of the future.

“I’m proud of myself and I’m happy that the coaches believed in me and gave me the opportunity,” Heinicke told the media following Washington’s 31-23 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Saturday in the first round of the NFL playoffs. “Hopefully I can do it again next year. I deserve to be in this league at least a little longer.”

In defeat, Heinicke, a former Old Dominion University quarterback, passed for 306 yards and a touchdown and ran for 46 yards and another touchdown.

Washington Coach Ron Rivera called Heinicke’s performance “gutsy” but declined to speculate on 2021. Washington finished this season 7-10.

Heinicke, signed by Washington in December as the “quarantine quarterback,” was the team’s fourth signal caller in a sea- son and featured an NFC East divisional title and victory over the previously undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dwayne Haskins, the 2019 top draft pick, began the season at quarterback but fell into disfavor and was released.

Kyle Allen and Alex Smith took turns taking the center’s snaps but both were sidelined by injury.

Desperation set in.

Heinicke was taking a math class and pursuing an engineering degree at ODU when he got the call from Coach Rivera.

Whatever the future holds, he’ll be remembered for the night he almost upstaged Tom Brady, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.

Looking ahead, the Washington is excited about its strong defense and the upward mobility of a cluster of offensive stars including Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas and J.D. McKissic.

How Heinicke fits in remains a question. Washington could draft a college quarterback and/or explore the free agent market.

Washington’s divisional title comes at a cost.

Due to the first place finish, Washington’s 2021 schedule will be difficult, including the likes of Seattle, Green Bay, New Orleans and Buffalo.

This past season, the Washington played the “last place” schedule after finishing fourth in the NFC East in 2019.