The Washington Commanders landed the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft thanks to a 4-13 season, with Sam Howell starting all 17 games. While the previous regime was high on Howell, that was the same front office who has now been fired, and replaced by general manager Adam Peters.
All signs point to the Commanders finding their new franchise quarterback in April, selecting a top prospect such as Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, since Caleb Williams likely won’t be available. So where does that leave Howell?
Possibly with another team.
Related: New York Jets linked to trade for young NFL QB prospect
NFL insider suggests Sam Howell could net Washington Commanders a third-round pick
According to NFL sources associated with Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports, “several” teams would have interest in trading for Sam Howell, if the Washington Commanders decide to part ways with the 2022 fifth-round pick.
Furthermore, he speculates that the Commanders could fetch a third-round pick or more for their 23-year-old quarterback.
On the surface, shopping Howell around could make a lot of sense for the Commanders, especially if they could get more compensation than they initially invested in the former North Carolina star. While Howell may still have room for growth, barring an injury, he won’t get to play much, if at all, in Washington.
While the Commanders may prefer having Howell at a very inexpensive rate of $1 million in 2024 and another $1.1M in 2025, they could also use more talent elsewhere on the roster. Trading Howell could be one way to do that.
There’s no telling what the Commanders will do with Howell this offseason, but it’s not a stretch to say he could be traded. If so, expect the Commanders to add an experienced QB who can help show their newly drafted prospect the ropes in his first season. Then again, adding a veteran in free agency might be the plan anyway, whether Howell returns or not.
Related: Where does Sam Howell land in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB Rankings?