Seahawks acquiring QB Sam Howell in trade with Commanders

WASHINGTON — Sam Howell is going to the Seattle Seahawks, a move that gives them a quarterback with experience to pair with starter Geno Smith and upgrades the Washington Commanders’ draft capital.

Seattle is getting Howell and fourth- and sixth-round picks from Washington for third- and fifth-rounders, in a trade completed Thursday and announced by the teams, pending a physical.

Howell also gets a change of scenery after throwing the most interceptions and being sacked the most of any player in the NFL last season.

The picks going to the Seahawks are Nos. 102 and 179 and to the Commanders Nos. 78 and 152. That means Washington has six selections in the top 100, plenty of chances for new general manager Adam Peters to reshape the roster and fill multiple needs, from left tackle to cornerback.

Howell started all 17 games for the Commanders during the 2023 season, threw 21 interceptions and was sacked 65 times behind an offensive line that was ravaged by injuries and poor play. Peters has already released two starters and brought in two potential replacements.

A 2022 fifth-round pick out of North Carolina, Howell joins the Seahawks after they allowed just 38 sacks last season. He fills the backup role behind Smith after Drew Lock left to sign with the New York Giants.

Moving on from Howell was not surprising after Washington signed veteran backup Marcus Mariota. The team could draft its QB of the future with the No. 2 pick, potentially North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels.