Report: Sam Hartman to sign with Washington Commanders as undrafted free agent

Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman is set to sign with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported. He signed with Washington following the 2024 NFL Draft.

It marks the next step in a career for Hartman that has already had a significant amount of highs.

Hartman was one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history, racking up an eye-popping 15,656 yards passing over the course of six seasons in college football. He threw for 134 touchdowns, while also throwing 49 interceptions.

The talented 6-foot-1 quarterback spent his first five seasons at Wake Forest, where he did considerable damage, before transferring to Notre Dame for his final season.

Hartman’s also not a complete slouch as a runner; he racked up 20 rushing touchdowns while in college.

Now headed to the next level, he’ll look to bring the kind of savvy and veteran leadership you’d expect of a player who spent six seasons in college.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Sam Hartman

The big knock on Hartman heading to the next level is his size and his physical traits. He’s not the tallest quarterback, while his arm strength leaves a little something to be desired.

There are some definite tools to work with, but his upside might be limited as a result of the aforementioned concerns.

Here’s what NFL Network analyst Lance Zierlein had to say in evaluating Hartman:

“Solidly built but shorter, Hartman plays with a competitive temperament but a lack of consistency. He can play inside structure, but at heart, he’s an improv-oriented passer. He has big hands to pump and reset the football, and his Wake Forest tape showed a player capable of beating defenses on extended plays.

“He processes quickly and can go from read to throw in an instant, but the arm strength is average and could be exploited by ball-hawking defenders. There are flashes on tape that can be compelling, but his lack of physical traits and high turnover totals during his career could limit him into a role as an average backup.”