Commanders send Howell to Seahawks

The Washington Commanders are trading quarterback Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks in a deal that involves a pick swap, the teams announced Thursday.

The Seahawks will get Howell, a fourth-round pick (No. 102), and a sixth-round selection (No. 179), while the Commanders will receive a third-rounder (No. 78) and a fifth-round pick (No. 152),

Howell was Washington's starting quarterback to open last season. The Commanders are in position to select a premier passer with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Seahawks were in the market for another quarterback to add to their roster after Drew Lock signed with the New York Giants in free agency. Geno Smith has been Seattle's full-time starter for the past two seasons.

Seattle general manager John Schneider confirmed that Smith would remain the starter, though he expects Howell to make a competitive effort for the job.

"Geno is the guy, and Sam will be backing him up," Schneider said Thursday on "Seattle Sports 710," according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.

He added, "It's not like we're signing him to go and compete with Geno to be a starter, but I'm sure he's gonna give it a run. He's a competitive guy."

Schneider added that Lock's departure was because the Giants "basically sold him on the opportunity to compete to be the starter," according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.

A fifth-round pick in 2022, Howell compiled a 4-13 record as a starter in 2023 with the Commanders. He struggled to protect the football, throwing a league-high 21 interceptions. He ended the campaign with 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns, 21 picks, and an NFL-leading 65 sacks taken.