The Washington Commanders have the second-overall pick in the draft, and everyone in the world knows they’re going to select a quarterback. Most assumed that this would move third-year quarterback Sam Howell to the bench, but one recent decision by the team could mean that a trade is on the way. Entering free agency with the most cap space in the league, Washington has been remarkably active on the open market. As of this posting, the team has signed Frankie Luvu, Dorrance Armstrong, Tyler Biadasz, and Austin Ekeler, just to name a few. However, one under-the-radar signing could spell the end of Howell’s tenure in Washington.
After spending the 2023 season backing up Jalen Hurts, quarterback Marcus Mariota signed a new contract with the Washington Commanders. Mariota, the former second-overall pick, spent four of his past five seasons working as a backup. While he had a promising start to his career, injuries sapped away his athleticism, and now he’s relegated to spending life as one of the better backups in the NFL. So, if Mariota is in town, then the Commanders will almost certainly trade Sam Howell.
Sam Howell Trade Becomes More Likely Following Marcus Mariota Signing
Sam Howell is not a franchise quarterback at this moment in time, but the former fifth-round did enough in 2023 to justify some trade interest. Overall, the North Carolina product finished the season with a relatively unimpressive 6.4 yards per attempt, 21 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. However, a deeper dive shows that this kid might have a future in the NFL.
Howell fell apart down the stretch, but the quarterback looked like he might have what it took to be a franchise passer early in the season. Through the first 10 games of the season, Howell completed 66.5% of his passes for 2,783 yards (7.01 yards per attempt), 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. These are solid numbers for a first-year starter, especially when you consider he was behind a terrible offensive line and had no threat of a run game.
Nobody is going to trade a first-round pick for Sam Howell, but there are a few teams who might be interested in giving up a mid- or late-round pick for his services. At worst, Howell is an above-average backup with the arm talent to make games interesting, and perhaps he can continue to develop in a better environment.
Top Destinations
New York Jets
If any team knows how important a franchise quarterback can be, it’s the New York Jets. Aaron Rodgers went down after four snaps last year, and Zach Wilson was not capable of handling starting duties. Rodgers will be back in 2024, but he’s 40 years old and coming back from a season-ending Achilles injury. While the team signed Tyrod Taylor, they should still consider a Sam Howell trade. In the short term, Howell is probably a better backup and he has the long-term potential to be the heir to Aaron Rodgers.
New Orleans Saints
Jameis Winston is a Cleveland Brown, which means that this team needs a new backup quarterback. Derek Carr is one of the least inspiring quarterbacks in the league, and if New Orleans gets off to a rough start, they could consider a quarterback change. Sam Howell has the highest upside of any quarterback remaining on the market, and the Saints could try and trade one of their three fifth-round picks for him.
Minnesota Vikings
With Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, the Minnesota Vikings are placing their franchise in the hands of Sam Darnold. While the quarterback has impressive physical traits, he’s been largely terrible since he entered the league. Minnesota needs to have a Plan B in case Darnold doesn’t improve, and a Sam Howell trade is the best way to get that done.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos ate $85 million just so Russell Wilson wouldn’t play for them. Currently holding the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft, the team will have a difficult time landing their preferred prospect. Instead of giving up a fortune to move up in the draft, the Broncos could trade a later pick for Sam Howell and have him compete with someone like Bo Nix in the second round.
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but he has a bit of a checkered past when it comes to injuries. While he stayed healthy in 2023, injuries forced him to miss a collective 10 games in the previous 10 seasons. Tyler Huntley is one of the Ravens many free agents, and he’s left something to be desired when filling in for Jackson. Acquiring Sam Howell in a trade will improve the backup position, which could be crucial for a team playing in the crowded AFC.
Main Photo: Geoff Burke – USA Today Sports
