Commanders QB Sam Howell Gained 'Tremendous Value' After Sitting This Year, Says GM
The Washington Commanders enter the NFL Draft and free agency period needing to make some moves if they are to catch the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys.
One such move has been rumored to be making a splash play for a free agent quarterback. But with Sam Howell on the roster, Washington has a decent option should it decide against going after a star.
Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew spoke ahead of the Scouting Combine, and the topic of Howell as the team's starter came up after sitting most of the season behind Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke.
"I think that it's a tremendous value," Mayhew said. "I don't think it's any coincidence that [Green Bay Packers QB] Aaron Rodgers and [Kansas City Chiefs QB] Pat Mahomes are two of the best quarterbacks in the league, and they had the benefit of being able to sit behind a quality quarterback, sit and learn for some period of time.
"I'm obviously not saying that Sam is those guys right now, but I'm saying that I think that there's a lot of benefit to coming in without that immediate pressure every single week to learn a different game plan."
So, Howell will get the chance to become the Commanders' starting quarterback. But will he be facing off against Taylor Heinicke or another free agent that the franchise will look to bring it?
All of those options are on the table now, and Mayhew stated that even if Howell is to sit behind a veteran for another year, it wouldn't be the worst thing for the second-year quarterback.
"[I] Was very impressed with the way that he played and practiced last year. Obviously very small sample, he only played in one game, but we got to see him the whole off-season. We gotta see him all through training camp, every week in practice. He has the skills that it takes to be a starter in this league, in my opinion."
Mayhew does have a point. Howell has only been in the league for a year, and both Rodgers and Mahomes sat for a year at least before being thrust into the starting job.
Whether or not Howell does become the starter, at least he has a chance to compete for it, and he may win the job.
But is he "the guy" for Washington to improve on last year's output? That is a question we are yet to have an answer for.
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