Sam Howell was placed in a very difficult situation during his time with the Washington Commanders, a situation so difficult that his new transition to the Seattle Seahawks could ultimately change the trajectory of his NFL career – for the better.

Howell could be categorized as a “gun slinger” with his near 4,000 yards (3,946) and 21 touchdowns in 2023 and his collegiate career where he racked up over 10,000 passing yards and 92 touchdowns, but with a very questionable offensive line and a lackluster defense, Howell was blamed for the team’s struggles.

The assessment was not completely accurate, and with coaching issues such as the hiring of defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, the team’s internal issues plagued the organization more than Howell’s performance.

The Seattle Seahawks are getting a young 23-year-old signal caller who still has a lot to learn. A new team brings an entirely new coaching staff and an offensive scheme that will help Howell reach new heights in 2024. Seattle hired Mike Macdonald as their leader and his defensive approach is a major upgrade over the Commanders, putting less stress on the quarterback to be the hero.

While the Seahawks already have a quarterback in Geno Smith, the team lost their backup Drew Lock to the New York Giants. With Lock’s departure, the team has a new backup quarterback that could eventually become the starter in a few short years. The current starter in Smith is 33 years old and is not getting any younger. This is a great situation for Howell as he will look to lean into Smith’s wisdom and grow his football IQ and knowledge after being thrown into the fire during his Commanders tenure.

Sam Howell Statistics College: 

2019: 3,641 Yards, 38 Touchdowns, 7 Interceptions

2020: 3,586 Yards, 30 Touchdowns, 7 Interceptions

2021: 3,056 Yards, 24 Touchdowns, 9 Interceptions

Total: 10,283 Yards, 92 Touchdowns, 23 Interceptions

Sam Howell Statistics NFL: 

2022: 169 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 1 Interception

2023: 3,946 Yards, 21 Touchdowns, 21 Interceptions

NFL Starter in the Future? 

“No risk it, no biscuit” – that is the mantra that Howell seemed to live with in 2023 and it had its positives and negatives. While the Commanders finished with a 4-13 record, Howell’s ability to learn while being put into a tough situation will only make him grow when given a better and more healthier opportunity.

The Seahawks acquiring Howell is going to have loads of benefits for him and ultimately his play during the preseason and throughout the next several years as the backup, assuming he does not win a potential quarterback battle, will be critical in determining if he is a legitimate NFL starter.

Howell was sacked 68 times during his Commanders tenure, which ranks 8th in the NFL in the last two seasons. Comparing this to Smith and the Seahawks offensive line, it is much better situation with 31 sacks allowed in 2023, and 46 in 2022. Please note that Howell only played in one game in 2022 compared to a full season with Smith, only highlighting the dreadful offensive line performance of the Commanders.

With a new regime, a fresh start, learning behind a decent quarterback and leader in Geno Smith, and having a much better offensive line than the previous organization, Howell is already going to be in a better situation when he touches down in Seattle than his entire time with the Commanders. He has what it takes to grow and become a future NFL starter and I am not ruling him out as a potential starter any time soon.

We all just have to wait and see if he is the real deal when given an adequate offensive line and a defense that doesn’t make him play hero ball and force things due to being down by multiple touchdowns in a game.

Ultimately, Howell has the attributes to be a leader and solid NFL starter at the quarterback position. His new home in Seattle will help him grow immensely and I am looking forward to seeing his growth over the next several years.

Let me know your thoughts on Howell and if you think he has what it takes to be a full time NFL starter.