Seahawks QB Sam Howell 'Excited' For New Chapter After Trade

Former Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell was traded to the Seattle Seahawks at the start of free agency.

The Washington Commanders traded Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks in a somewhat surprising move last week.

But as it turns out, Howell, who spent time with David Canales, (Seattle's quarterbacks coach during the draft process in 2022), thought he was going to be drafted by the Seahawks.

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But the Commanders snapped him up, and now, two years later, he's where he thought he would be.

"I spent a lot of time with (Canales), and we had a really good relationship," Howell said via Seahawks.com. "I thought this was a team I might come to do, but I didn't. But I'm here now, and I'm excited to be here and excited to be a Seahawk."

Howell now comes to an organization that sees a future for him. While Smith is the starter for 2024, beyond that, it's anyone's guess. With Geno's cap hit, a decision could be made on the veteran next offseason.

That is what makes the franchise's move for Howell so intriguing, as after Drew Lock was snapped up by the New York Giants, a backup quarterback was needed.

Now, Seattle not only has a competent backup quarterback but also one who has shown that he can start and play at a high level. Howell did well with what he was confronted with last season. It isn't easy coming in to start for the first time in your career, and things didn't go well all that often.

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Howell was sacked 65 times last season, second-most in the NFL. He was often running for his life, not to mention while learning a new system and being a starter for the first time—it was a perfect storm.

Now, armed with a full year of experience and coming to a franchise that is entering a new era with Mike Macdonald, it is easy to see why Howell is "excited" to be a Seahawk.