That involved Sam Howell's hasty departure. And now, it seems as if the ex-Washington starter could be on the move again this offseason.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Seattle Seahawks could potentially trade Howell just one year after acquiring him from the Commanders. They signed Sam Darnold to start and Drew Lock to back him up. That leaves the former North Carolina standout on the outside looking in, and there is reported interest from elsewhere for the second straight offseason.
The Seahawks are open to trading Sam Howell and have received inquiries from teams interested in acquiring their backup quarterback, sources have told ESPN. That interest comes on the heels of the Seahawks adding Drew Lock last week, re-signing Geno Smith's former backup to potentially fill the same role behind new starter Sam Darnold. Jaren Hall is their fourth quarterback, giving Seattle a potential surplus at the position. Seattle acquired Howell in a trade last March with the Washington Commanders, giving up third- and fifth-round selections in exchange for Howell and picks in the fourth and sixth rounds. The Seahawks beat out three other teams who were also negotiating with Washington, a source told ESPN at the time.Jeremy Fowler
The fact that Peters got a third-round pick for Howell was a masterful heist. It extracted maximum value for a young player who wasn't going to be part of the new regime's plans. They'd made their mind up to take Daniels, although the Commanders didn't give anything away until the big night.
Commanders did magnificently to extract maximum value for Sam Howell
Howell is now at a career crossroads. He was dealt a poor hand during his one season starting in Washington, thanks to Ron Rivera's subpar offensive line construction. Peters wasn't going to wait around on the off chance things improved, especially given he had an opportunity to take someone with Daniels' electrifying credentials.
Fortunately for Howell, there is nobody like Daniels emerging from the college ranks this season. That's a big reason why interest in his services is there. Teams will always take a flyer on his upside rather than overdraft someone who may or may not work out.
Expect developments to come quickly regarding Howell's imminent departure from Seattle. The draft is fast approaching, so trading him before then could get the Seahawks another pick. It's also the best possible solution for the signal-caller with offseason workouts around the league already underway.
As for the Commanders? They've worked tirelessly throughout the recruitment period to improve the supporting cast around Daniels. Peters knows that their Super Bowl window is open and the LSU graduate's rookie contract must be maximized in the coming years. It's a slight diversion from the front-office leader's original plan, but one that was necessary in the circumstances.
It'll be interesting to see where Howell ends up next. Wherever that may be, hitting the ground running is crucial in the final year of his deal.
