Sam Howell
#1 QB,
Seahawks
ACTUAL 2022
18 FPTS
RANK: 57
2023 SEASON
276 FPTS
RANK: 26
AGE
22 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
6'1'' / 220 lbs
COLLEGE
North Carolina
| SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK | PAATT | PACMP | PAYD | PATD | PAINT | COMP% | RUATT | RUYD | RUTD |
| 2023 | 14 | 276 | 26th | 480 | 301 | 3380 | 20 | 12 | 62.7 | 62 | 254 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 | 18 | 57th | 19 | 11 | 169 | 1 | 1 | 57.9 | 5 | 35 | 1 |
| 3yr Ave | 0 | 0 | 96th | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Plays 25 snaps in 2024
Published: 2025-01-09
Howell completed five of 14 passes for 24 yards and an interception and rushed once for two yards across three games during the 2024 season.
Howell played just 25 snaps this season, 24 of which were in relief of an injured Geno Smith in Week 15 against the Packers. Howell's numbers are unappealing, but he should still be considered a formidable backup moving forward, as he posted 3,946 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 2023. Smith and Howell both have one year remaining on their respective contracts, so as long as Smith isn't cut as a cap casualty, Howell's two years removed from a true starting competition.
Fantasy Points by Week 2022
Weekly Stats 2022
| Fantasy Points | Betting | Passing Stats | Rushing Stats | Advanced Passing Stats | Targets | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WEEK | STADIUM | GAME | RANK | SPREAD | O/U | ATT | CMP | YD | TD | INT | COMP% | RATING | ATT | YD | TD | AIR | CATCH | 20YD+ | PLAY | WR | RB | TE | |||||
| 18 DAL | Outdoor 42° | 18.3 | 7th | 7.0 | 41.5 | 19 | 11 | 169 | 1 | 1 | 57.9 | 83.0 | 5 | 35 | 1 | 9 | 68% | 50% | 22% | 63% | 16% | 16% | |||||
Performance Splits: 2020 to 2022
| Fantasy Points | Passing Averages | Rushing Averages | |||||||||||||||
| LOCATION | STADIUM | GP | GS | GM | RANK | YD | TD | INT | COMP% | RATING | AIR | CATCH | 20YD+ | YD | TD | ||
| Home | Outdoor | 1 | 1 | 18.3 | 13th | 169 | 1.0 | 1 | 57.9 | 83.0 | 68% | 50% | 9 | 35 | 1.0 | ||
Career Stats by Season: 2022 to 2022
| Fantasy Points | Passing Stats | Rushing Stats | Advanced Passing Stats | Targets | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | GP | GS | TOTAL | RANK | ATT | CMP | YD | TD | INT | CMP% | RATING | ATT | YD | TD | AIR | CATCH | 20YD+ | PLAY | WR | RB | TE | ||||
| 2022 | 22 | WAS | 1 | 1 | 18 | 57th | 19 | 11 | 169 | 1 | 1 | 57.9 | 83 | 5 | 35 | 1 | 8.5 | 68% | 50% | 22% | 63% | 16% | 16% | ||||
Struggles in relief Sunday
Published: 2024-12-15
Howell took over for Geno Smith (knee) in the second half of Sunday's 30-13 loss to Green Bay, completing just five of 14 pass attempts for 24 yards and an interception. He added one carry for two yards.
Howell did not fare well in his first extended look since joining the Seahawks this past offseason. The former Commander took over for an injured Smith early in the second half and finished with an abysmal 14.6 passer rating on 14 attempts. Smith's knee injury didn't appear to be season-ending, but the team will run tests on the veteran starter Monday. In the event Howell is asked to start in Week 16, he would make for a poor fantasy choice in almost any format given his track record for inaccuracy combined with a tough opponent (the Vikings).
Efficient in second exhibition game
Published: 2024-08-17
Howell completed 11 of 14 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Saturday's 16-15 preseason loss to the Titans. He added two rushes for 11 yards.
The Seahawks have shown little interest in playing their starters this preseason, leaving Howell to handle the majority of the exhibition contests. He played a clean game Saturday and dropped a beautiful pass into the arms of Easop Winston late in the first quarter for a 23-yard touchdown. Geno Smith remains the clear starter in Seattle, but Howell has looked like a very serviceable backup.
Plenty of time in preseason opener
Published: 2024-08-10
Howell completed 16 of 27 passes for 130 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and rushed four times for 17 yards in the Seahawks' 16-3 preseason win over the Chargers on Saturday night.
Howell drew the start with Geno Smith a healthy scratch, and the offseason arrival played until just the halfway point of the third quarter. The 2022 fifth-round pick of the Commanders led two first-half touchdown drives and also spearheaded a 14-play, 84-yard march on his last possession that ended on downs at the Chargers' two-yard line. It was a relatively solid in-game Seahawks debut for Howell, who seems to have a clear advantage over journeyman PJ Walker for the No. 2 quarterback job heading into Seattle's second preseason game next Saturday night at Tennessee.
Headed for Seattle
Published: 2024-03-14
The Commanders are sending Howell, a fourth-round draft pick and a sixth-rounder to the Seahawks in exchange for third and fifth-round draft choices, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
With Howell no longer in the mix, Washington figures to use the No. 2 overall pick in April's NFL Draft on a new franchise QB. Meanwhile, Howell, who started all 17 of the Commanders' regular-season games in 2023, fills the void created by Drew Lock's departure in free agency and gives the Seahawks an alternative to incumbent No. 1 signal-caller Geno Smith.
Could be traded soon?
Published: 2024-03-12
The Commanders' recent contract agreement with QB Marcus Mariota suggests Howell may be on the trade block, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
The other interpretation, which seems less likely, is that the Commanders will let Howell compete with Mariota for the starting job rather than drafting a QB early this April. The team owns the No. 2 overall pick, with most reports to date suggesting Washington will select either UNC QB Drake Maye or LSU QB Jayden Daniels. There was a point in 2023 when it looked like the Commanders might have found their franchise QB, but Howell then had a 4:12 TD:INT ratio over the final seven games of the regular season (all losses) while completing only 57.7 percent of his passes for 5.4 yards per attempt. He ended up starting all 17 games, but only because backup Jacoby Brissett suffered a hamstring injury in practice shortly after being promoted to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Howell should have suitors if the Commanders decide to trade him, given that he has two years left on his rookie contract and averaged 278.3 passing yards and 1.7 TDs over the first 10 games of 2023. That said, the best he can hope for is a shot to compete with another player for a starting job.
Picked off twice in finale
Published: 2024-01-07
Howell completed 19 of 27 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Commanders.
It was a fittingly rough end to a poor season for Washington, and Howell wraps up his first -- and possibly last -- season as the team's starting quarterback with a 21:21 TD:INT over 17 games, with the interceptions being the most in the NFL. The 2022 fifth-round selection is expected to get serious competition for the starting job in the offseason, likely from whoever the Commanders select with the second overall pick in the 2024 Draft, and Howell is likely to head into Week 1 of next year in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.
Will retain starting role in finale
Published: 2024-01-03
Coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell will start Sunday's season finale against the Cowboys, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Howell was expected to be benched Week 17 but was pressed into action when Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) sat out. The second-year quarterback's struggles continued in the 27-10 loss to San Francisco, and Howell has a putrid 3:10 TD:INT over his last six starts, but Washington will stick with him against Dallas. Given his poor finish to the season, Howell will likely face competition for the starting role next season, but he'll get one more opportunity to help his case Sunday against a motivated Cowboys team that would clinch the NFC East title with a win.
Struggles in blowout loss
Published: 2023-12-31
Howell completed 17 of 28 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the 49ers.
After the Commanders announced that Howell would be benched early in the week, he was forced into the starting role with Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) sidelined. He struggled in a tough matchup, averaging only 6.0 yards per attempt while turning the ball over twice. Howell did have positive moments, as he completed three passes of at least 20 yards and also connected with Terry McLaurin for a three-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. It's unclear whether Howell will get the chance to start in Week 18 against the Cowboys, but he has now failed to throw for multiple touchdowns in six straight games.