Former Commanders quarterback already looks like a bust on his new team

The Washington Commanders' decision to start over with quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft was the franchise-changing move that woke a sleeping giant. Unfortunately, there had to be some collateral damage along the way.

That, of course, was Sam Howell.

Adam Peters traded him to the Seattle Seahawks for a package that included a third-round selection. It was decent compensation for someone taken in the fifth round who'd been wildly inconsistent during his only season as a starter. That proved even more accurate after Howell was shipped off again this offseason.

The Seahawks got far less from the Minnesota Vikings than they gave up for Howell. He was initially slotted into the backup role behind J.J. McCarthy, but reports suggest the North Carolina product has a lot of hard work ahead before this objective is achieved.

Former Commanders QB Sam Howell is off to a rough start in Minnesota

Alec Lewis from The Athletic didn't paint a glowing picture of Howell's training camp performance so far. The beat writer hinted that everything was moving fast for the signal-caller, and it didn't look like he had a full grasp of the offensive system as yet. There's a long way to go, but the first impression isn't especially promising.

The best way to sum up [Sam] Howell’s performance is a beat too slow. Without the post-practice film, it’s impossible to assess each rep accurately. Is Howell taking a hitch because he’s not seeing the picture correctly, or is he waiting a split second extra because the receiver was rerouted by a cornerback? Whatever the case, it feels fair to say that Howell hasn’t consistently pulled the trigger promptly.Alec Lewis

The Vikings aren't expecting Howell to be anything other than a backup. They've hitched their wagon to McCarthy, and confidence is growing with every outstanding practice he stacks up. But if standards don't improve, it's not hard to see where the complications could arise for the ex-Commanders starter.

Minnesota has Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer behind Howell. Not exactly world-beaters, but enough to keep the pressure on in the coming weeks.

These growing pains aren't entirely surprising. At the same time, Howell has been around the franchise for a few months now and is working with Kevin O'Connell, the ex-Washington coach who's widely regarded as one of the best quarterback developers in the game.

The stakes are high for Howell. This also happens to be the final year of his rookie deal. If he wants to stick around in Minnesota or potentially get another opportunity elsewhere in 2026, he must respond positively.

Otherwise, the consequences will be severe.

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