After Drew Lock signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants, the Seattle Seahawks acquired Sam Howell from the Washington Commanders in exchange for the backup quarterback for the 2024 campaign.
Might the Seattle Seahawks pass on selecting a quarterback until the following season?
Howell, who is only 24 years old, started all of Washington’s games in the previous season. He threw for almost 4,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023, demonstrating some of his high points, but he also had the most interceptions and sacks of any quarterback in the NFL. Howell was benched several times as well.
It’s been made clear that Howell will be the backup to Geno Smith, who returns to Seattle for his sixth year with the Seahawks and his third as the team’s starter. So what does that mean for Howell in 2024?
During Friday’s Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports, former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus broke down what the best-case scenario for Howell is this upcoming season.
“The best-case scenario for Sam Howell is for him to go out and ball out during this preseason. To ball out,” Bumpus said. “I mean, he’s got to have six touchdowns to one interception and 300-400 yards. He’s got to make it clear, ‘I’m the best backup, or one of the best backups, in this league.’”
That’s key for a few reasons, Bumpus said, one of which is potential trade value.
“Because then what’s gonna happen is guys are gonna get hurt throughout the season, that trade deadline has been pushed back a week, (teams are) gonna hit up the Seahawks and say, ‘What about that Sam kid? What do you guys want for him?’” Bumpus said. “Well, ‘Give us a third-round pick back or give us someone else.’ The best-case scenario is for Sam Howell to look great during preseason and sit down during the season and stay healthy so then his value just goes up and to have some of these guys that are (with new teams) kind of struggle a bit.”
With 68 quarterbacks starting at least one game in 2022 and 66 in 2023, backup quarterbacks are more common than they have ever been. Howell might be a desirable trade target if quarterbacks with troubled histories or quarterbacks on new teams don’t have the best of starts, according to Bumpus.
Bumpus remarked, “(Howell) is going to look more attractive the more those guys struggle.” “That increases his value for next year, even if he isn’t traded or selected this season. Thus, regarding Sam Howell… Go out and have fun during the preseason; if you sit back and play well as a backup, someone will come get you. You go ahead and do it if it’s not the Seahawks.
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