Another QB on the Market: Washington Commanders Considering Trading Sam Howell

A new 2024 quarterback option has hit the open market, as the Washington Commanders are interested in trading starting quarterback Sam Howell, according to a report by Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports.

The Commanders are expected to take a quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, leaving Howell’s days as a starter likely numbered.

A fifth-round pick in 2022, Howell had an up and down season in his first sustained action in 2023. He competed 63.4% of his passes, while leading the NFL with 612 attempts He threw for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns.

But those also came along with an NFL-leading 21 interceptions, which helped reduce his passer rating to an abysmal 78.9. He was also sacked 65 times, again leading the league.

There remains promise in Howell’s physical tools, but the negative plays from 2023 will be a tough pill to swallow for a team that could be acquiring him and the top reason that Washington is looking to move on.

Despite that, Vacchiano reports interested in Howell in the NFL trade market.

“Multiple NFL sources believe several teams would be interested in trading for the 23-year-old,” Vacchiano reported. “They could potentially get a third-round pick for him — maybe more — if they decide they’re willing to deal him sometime around the draft.”

Considering that is near to the expected return that the Chicago Bears are likely to get for a far more talented and more successful player in Justin Fields, it seems reasonable to take that figure with some skepticism.

Would the Steelers be interested in Howell? Considering they have their own quarterback from the 2022 rookie class that has showed promise but also warts in Kenny Pickett, it seems like an unlikely fit. But even the addition of another potential trade target to the quarterback landscape could have impact of reducing the overall cost across the board. It sometimes take a desperate team to overpay, and more options create less desperation.