Seattle Seahawks Ex Offers 'Best-Case Scenario' For QB Sam Howell After Trade

Sam Howell was traded to the Seattle Seahawks and will serve as Geno Smith's backup.

Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks traded for Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell this offseason to be Geno Smith's backup after Drew Lock left for the New York Giants.

While there were some eyebrows raised at the move, the Seahawks now have a young, competent backup quarterback for a "worst-case" scenario in 2024. Howell showed in his first year as an NFL starter that he has the talent to win football games, but needs more support around him - he'll get that in Seattle.

But former Seahawks receiver Michael Bumpus has offered up his take on what the "best-case" scenario is for Howell this upcoming season in Seattle.

Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

“The best-case scenario for Sam Howell is for him to go out and ball out during this preseason. To ball out,” Bumpus said Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports. “I mean, he’s got to have six touchdowns to one interception and 300-400 yards. He’s got to make it clear, ‘I’m the best backup, or one of the best backups, in this league.'"

So why is it so imperative for Howell to play to a supremely high level in preseason? After all, Smith is the starting quarterback barring something otherworldly happening.

But as it turns out, Bumpus' thoughts for Howell involve him playing well and putting himself on the radar of other teams if there are injuries or if some quarterbacks struggle, then Howell has put out good film during preseason and might get a chance elsewhere.

“The more those guys struggle, the more attractive (Howell) is going to look,” Bumpus continued. “Even if he doesn’t get traded or picked up (this season), that helps his value for next year. So for Sam Howell … go out and do your thing during the preseason, you sit down and be a good backup and someone’s gonna grab you. If it ain’t the Seahawks, you go and do your thing.”

Bumpus' logical is tough to disagree with. Not only could Howell potentially find a starting job elsewhere, given Geno's cap hit next season (post-June 1 cut would save Seattle $25m against the cap), he could put putting himself in a position to take over.

While that does seem like a long shot, this is the NFL, so anything is possible. Howell has a year to learn Ryan Grubb's system and sit behind Smith, a luxury he wasn't afforded in Washington.

Howell's future might be with Seattle, it might not. But what he can do, as Bumpus said, is to ball out in preseason and catapult himself into calculations with other teams going forward.