The Seattle Seahawks have made a significant move by trading with Washington to acquire quarterback Sam Howell. In 2023, Howell was the starting quarterback for all 17 games with the Commanders.
The details of the trade have been shared by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. The Seahawks will receive quarterback Sam Howell, a fourth-round NFL Draft pick (No. 102), and a sixth-round pick (No. 179). In return, the Commanders will get a third-round pick (No. 78) and a fifth-round pick (No. 152).
Adam Schefter reports that the Seattle Seahawks have had their eyes on Howell for some time. Howell was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 draft from North Carolina.
At 23 years old, Howell completed 64.4% of his passes last season. He led the NFL with 612 attempts, threw 21 interceptions, and was sacked 65 times, the highest in the league. He also managed to throw for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns.
The Seahawks have decided to keep Geno Smith, their starting quarterback for the past two seasons. However, they lost their backup quarterback, Drew Lock, to the New York Giants in free agency this week. Smith, who has been supportive of Lock, expressed his excitement about Howell joining the team on social media.
Jake Heaps, a former Seahawks quarterback and Seattle Sports host, had previously discussed Howell’s potential. He described Howell as a strong leader with excellent downfield throwing accuracy, comparing his skills to those of Drew Brees. Heaps was particularly impressed by Howell’s ability to move outside the pocket and make plays.
Howell had a standout sophomore year at North Carolina in 2020, completing 68.1% of his passes for 3,586 yards and 30 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. His performance dipped slightly in 2021, with a 62.5% completion rate, 3,056 yards, and 24 touchdowns to nine interceptions.
With Mike Macdonald stepping in as the new head coach and Ryan Grubb taking on the role of offensive coordinator, the Seahawks are entering a new chapter. Meanwhile, Washington has signed veteran backup Marcus Mariota and is considering drafting a quarterback with the No. 2 pick, possibly North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
Seahawks general manager and president of football operations, John Schneider, is expected to provide more insights on the trade during his appearance on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob show.
This article also acknowledges contributions from The Associated Press and mentions Seahawks legend Bobby Wagner’s reunion with former coaches on the Commanders.