Sam Howell

The Athletic’s Ben Standig reports four teams “were involved in the bidding process” on Sam Howell before he was traded to the Seahawks.

Even after a disastrous 2023 campaign in which Howell threw 21 interceptions and held on to the ball at a league-leading rate, four teams were in talks with Washington about acquiring the third-year quarterback. That the Seahawks won that multi-team bidding war could mean the team sees promise in Howell, 23, though Seattle general manager John Schneider said Thursday that the team did not acquire Howell to compete with Geno Smith for starting duties in 2024. Standig said the Commanders’ new regime was out on Howell right away, looking to start a rebuild with a top quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft.