This draft’s slow-paced approach with non-Kenny Pickett quarterbacks affected Sam Howell, whose wait lasted well into Day 3. The Commanders stopped the skid.
Washington led off the fifth round by taking the North Carolina passer at No. 144. Howell is this draft’s sixth QB selected, coming in behind Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Malik Willis, Matt Corral and Bailey Zappe.
Although Howell waited much longer to hear his name called than expected, he lands in an interesting place. The Commanders took on Carson Wentz‘s full salary in their trade with the Colts, but the twice-traded quarterback is a year-to-year proposition. Wentz is on Washington’s books at $28.3MM this year, with $22MM of that figure being guaranteed. None of Wentz’s money over the next two years is guaranteed.
While the prospect of Howell becoming a starter is jumping the gun, as there are currently no fifth-round QBs penciled in as their teams’ starters, the Commanders have started five Week 1 QBs in the past six years. Wentz will become No. 6, with the former North Carolina passer set to develop behind he and Taylor Heinicke. The latter’s contract runs through 2022.
The Giants were also linked to Howell, viewing him as a possible late-Day 2 addition. ESPN rated the 6-foot Howell as its No. 50 overall prospect. But teams’ collective views on this quarterback class checked in even lower than the public’s, allowing for other positional attention as QBs slid. Howell was once viewed as a potential first-round pick. He exited his sophomore year with a 68-to-14 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio, playing with the likes of Javonte Williams, Michael Carter, Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown. Howell and Brown are now reunited in Washington, which used a third-round pick on the wideout last year.
Without those players last season, Howell’s stock fell a bit. Although, he still entered the draft after his junior year. He was viewed as a likely Day 2 selection, behind the bulk of the aforementioned passers. Zappe going in front of the ex-Tar Heel was somewhat surprising, given their pre-draft stocks, but Howell may have landed in a better spot for potential playing time down the road.
I think he will turn out to be the best QB out if this draft class. Cannon for an arm. Can run some. Just didn’t have any weapons this year with his best leaving last year
Should start for them
Amazing how he falls to round 4 after being a projected top 15 pick prior to the NCAA season.
To compare, Trubisky went in 2nd overall his draft year and had 1 season as a starter in college.
let this be a lesson gents, if you have a good season in college, run for the pros. any drop in previous production and you should stay in school
A nice sensible place in the draft to take a flyer on a QB.
What a bargain for the Commanders. Could end up being their starter at some point.
Interesting how even though the QBs have plummeted in the draft, they’ve mostly all ended up in fantastic situations. Pickett has a legit shot to start immediately, if not then soon. Same goes for Ridder. Willis can sit and learn behind a good QB for a year or 2, then maybe take over when he’s more ready. Howell can’t be overlooked in what is now a pretty interesting 3-headed QB monster in WSH. And Corral might even have a shot soon in Carolina, although I don’t necessarily believe that drafting him takes them out of the running for Jimmy G or Baker.
Once he started falling, I thought DC was the fit, but they got him a round later than I expected.
It’s basically a free roll of the dice.
Still, 6’1 QB’s are rare. I’d probably bet against their bet.
Without the Hawks drafting any of the QBs I’m beginning to think they are serious about Drew Lock. It’s going to be a long year.