Sam Howell DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Seattle Seahawks are open to trading quarterback Sam Howell and have received inquiries from teams interested in landing the backup signal-caller, according to sources. The interest comes after Seattle reunited with former backup Drew Lock last week. Sam Darnold is the starter, but the Seahawks also have Jaren Hall as their No. 4 QB. General manager John Schneider said last week that the team is prepared to have Howell and Lock compete for the backup job behind Darnold this summer. Seattle acquired Howell in a trade last March with the Washington Commanders, giving up third- and fifth-round picks in exchange for fourth- and sixth-round picks. The 24-year-old didn't look great at all in relief of Geno Smith in December after he started all 17 games for the Commanders in 2023, throwing 21 touchdowns and a league-high 21 interceptions.

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said that signing quarterback Drew Lock in free agency "doesn't preclude" taking a signal-caller in next week's NFL draft. Schneider also said that he expects a competition for the backup job this summer between Lock and Sam Howell. "Really excited to have all four of those guys but in particular to have Sam Howell and Drew kind of competing for that second spot is a pretty good deal for us," Schneider said. The GM also said Seattle could dress three QBs in 2025, which is something the team has rarely done. Sam Darnold will obviously be the starter after a career year in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings. Howell ended up playing just 25 snaps behind Geno Smith last year in Seattle, going 14-for-24 with an interception. Both Howell and Lock have proven to be turnover-prone in their time in the NFL. Lock was Smith's backup in Seattle in 2023.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the team doesn't plan on playing backup quarterback Sam Howell in their Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The Seahawks were eliminated from postseason contention in Week 17, but it sounds as though they plan to play all of their starters this weekend to close out the season. Howell has played only 25 offensive snaps in his first year in Seattle and didn't look particularly confident in the rare instances he got into a game this year. Despite dealing with a nagging knee injury of late, the 34-year-old Geno Smith should start and play all of the Week 18 game, lining him up as a QB1 option this week with so many starters across the league being rested in the season finale. Smith enters Week 18 as the QB13 in overall fantasy points with 4,097 passing yards, 17 TDs and 15 interceptions in 16 games.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell went 11-for-14 for 153 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's loss to the Tennessee Titans. Howell looked shaky early on as the Titans blitzed aggressively out of the gate resulting in back-to-back three-and-outs. Howell actually fumbled while being sacked on the second drive but had the good fortune that a teammate was in position to fall on the ball. Howell recovered well on the team's third possession resulting in a touchdown to Easop Winston Jr. This was Howell's second start in as many preseason games for the Seahawks. Geno Smith (hip/knee) returned to practice last week and carried no designation coming into Saturday but ultimately sat. Howell will be backing up Smith to start the season but it was an encouraging effort after the early miscues.

Quarterback Sam Howell enjoyed a win in his debut with the Seahawks on Saturday. Howell went 16-for-27 for 130 yards and a touchdown as a passer in Seattle's 16-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He also gained 17 yards on four rushes. The Chargers' aggressive pass rush kept pressure on Howell throughout the game resulting in several throwaways and broken plays. Howell's first score in a Seahawk uniform was a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brady Russell early in the second quarter. The former Washington Commander came to Seattle via trade in the offseason to back up veteran Geno Smith, who was held out of the preseason game as a precaution. Howell will next be in action when Seattle takes on the Tennessee Titans on August 17.