Report: Seahawks 'Open' to Trading 17-Game Starter

The 2025 quarterback draft class is one of the worst in recent memory, and the Seattle Seahawks could take advantage of the lack of incoming talent. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the team could trade backup quarterback Sam Howell, and they’ve reportedly had preliminary talks about a potential deal. A fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Howell only attempted 14 passes with Seattle last year. However, he was Washington’s primary starter in 2023 and showed some signs of life. Starting in all 17 games, the North Carolina product completed 388 of his 612 attempts for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions while playing behind an abysmal offensive line with a poor coaching staff and only one reliable wide receiver.

Despite Howell’s efforts, Washington finished with the second-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and moved forward with Jayden Daniels running the offense. This was unquestionably the correct decision, as nobody believes Howell is a franchise quarterback. However, he could be a top-32 quarterback and could serve as an adequate short-term starter for a team looking for help at the position. Looking around the league, the following teams make the most sense as potential destinations.

REPORT: Seahawks “Open” To A Sam Howell Trade

New Orleans Saints

The Derek Carr drama continues to grow in the buildup to the NFL Draft, as both sides appear to be on a collision course for a nasty divorce. The longtime Raider has been an adequate starter since joining New Orleans in 2023, but he has yet to guide the team to the playoffs. Now, fostering a subpar roster with a new head coach in former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, it might be time for New Orleans to embrace a rebuilding season and move on from Carr.

In a perfect world, the Saints could part ways with Carr and allow a rookie quarterback to start the season under center. However, this is a poor quarterback class, and whoever they select may not be ready for that type of responsibility. A Sam Howell trade shouldn’t cost too much, and he’s more than capable of holding down the starting job while someone like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart adjusts to the NFL.

Cleveland Browns

It’s hard to envision a more depressing quarterback battle than Kenny Pickett and the age-40 Joe Flacco, but that’s where the Cleveland Browns find themselves just days ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. With Miami’s Cam Ward the presumptive first-overall pick, Cleveland probably won’t be able to select a quarterback until the second round. While players like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Louisville’s Tyler Shough offer the upside of the unknown, they probably won’t make an immediate impact for this squad.

Say what you will about Sam Howell, but the trade candidate offers more upside and stability at the position than Pickett or the present-day version of Flacco. Barring a miracle, the Browns won’t make the playoffs in 2025, but this team must show some competence for head coach Kevin Stefanski to keep his job. The Deshaun Watson experiment is unofficially over, so it’s time to look for someone who can start for this long-suffering franchise.