Washington Commanders former quarterback Sam Howell (14) Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Insider says Sam Howell could push Geno Smith for Seahawks starting QB job

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 3/21/24

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider stated that recently acquired quarterback Sam Howell was added to back up incumbent starter Geno Smith.

However, some believe Howell has a decent chance to push for playing time in 2024 after showing signs of promise during an up-and-down 2023 season with the Washington Commanders.

“One Seahawks source said he thinks Howell has the talent and drive to push Smith for the starting job,” ESPN’s Brady Henderson wrote. “‘He'll battle his ass off,’ the source said.”

Howell had a rough go of things in his sophomore campaign, playing behind a porous offensive line with little help from his run game in Washington. The 23-year-old led the NFL in sacks taken (65) and Washington didn’t have a single 100-yard rusher during the season.

Worst percentage of pressured dropbacks to result in a sack since 2022:

Ryan Tannehill: 27%
Bryce Young: 24.5%
Russell Wilson: 23.7%
Sam Howell: 23.2%
Zach Wilson: 23%
Justin Fields: 22.8%
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) March 21, 2024

Despite the shortcomings of the supporting cast around Howell, he still put up solid numbers. He ranked 12th in passing yards (3,946) and tied for 15th in touchdown passes (21), outperforming Smith (3,624 yards, 20 touchdowns) in both categories.

Smith was named to his second Pro Bowl in 2023. He’ll be 34 at the beginning of the 2024 season, though, and his completion percentage, passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating all dropped off significantly from his Comeback Player of the Year season in 2022.

First-year Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has been noncommittal about who the team’s starting quarterback will be. Should Howell step into a starting role at any point, it can be argued he’s in a much better situation to succeed with the Seahawks than he was with the Commanders.

Seattle’s offensive line surrendered the 10th-fewest sacks in the NFL in 2023, and the team has a better run game with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, a better trio of receivers in D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and a better tight end in Noah Fant.

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