Sam Howell is Commanders' Biggest Storyline At OTAs?

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell has been at the center of offseason headlines ahead of his second season.

Few situations garner eyes like a new quarterback. 

Quarterback Sam Howell has been in the middle of headlines for the Washington Commanders and that likely won't change throughout the 2023 season. 

Despite Washington head coach Ron Rivera saying the Commanders are having an open competition, all signs point to Howell being the man under center on Sept. 10 against the Arizona Cardinals. With Howell set to take the reins, Bleacher Report tabbed his development as Washington's biggest storyline at OTAs.

"The Washington Commanders were the one team in the NFC East that didn't make the playoffs last season," Bleacher Report writes. "They're hoping that giving second-year quarterback Sam Howell a shot to start will allow that to change in 2023."

Washington went 8-8-1 and was 2-3-1 against NFC East opponents in 2022. In Howell's lone start of the season, he threw and ran for a touchdown in a 26-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys

Offensively, Washington ranked 24th in the NFL in points, averaging 18.9 points per game. On defense, the Commanders fared much better, ranking seventh in points allowed per game with 20.2. 

In five of the Commanders' eight losses, they scored 17 points or less. In three of those games, Washington had a chance to tie or win the game in the final minute. 

If Howell can steady Washington's offense and the defense continues to play at a high level, Bleacher Report believes they can be a team to look out for.  

"Washington did have the league's third-ranked defense in yardage last season, and with improved quarterback play, the Commanders could be a sleeper team," Bleacher Report writes.

Few players will be under more pressure than Howell in 2023. With offseason activities set to ramp up in the upcoming weeks, the spotlight around the second-year quarterback is only going to get brighter.

---

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Washington Commanders? Click Here.

Follow Commander Country on Twitter.

Want even more Washington Commanders news? Check out the SI.com team page here.