Sam Howell Traded to Seahawks from Commanders; Teams Swap 2024 NFL Draft Picks

The Washington Commanders will presumably select a new franchise quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, so they traded last year's starter to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday.

Washington sent Sam Howell, a fourth-round draft pick and a sixth-round draft pick to the NFC West team in exchange for a third-round draft pick and fifth-round draft pick.

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the deal.

Washington selected Howell out of North Carolina with a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, and he was the full-time starter in just his second season in the league.

Yet he struggled with consistency on the way to a 4-13 record while completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns and a league-high 21 interceptions. While he flashed his potential at times and threw for plenty of yards, the mistakes proved too costly for the Commanders to compete in the NFC East.

It will be imperative for him to cut down on the interceptions if he is going to battle for playing position on the Seahawks.

There figures to be an opportunity to compete with Geno Smith after former Seahawks signal-caller Drew Lock agreed to a deal with the New York Giants this offseason.

While Smith made his second straight Pro Bowl in 2023, his numbers dropped off a bit. He completed a league-best 69.8 percent of his passes for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2022 and followed up by completing 64.7 percent of his passes for 3,624 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2023.

If nothing else, Seattle now has a backup with starting experience in Howell who can fill in for Smith if needed.

As for the Commanders, they have the No. 2 pick in the draft and will surely look to pick one of the top quarterbacks after trading Howell. Even if the Chicago Bears take Caleb Williams at No. 1, Washington can still choose from Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels or perhaps even J.J. McCarthy.