The Seattle Seahawks acquired Sam Howell via trade to be Geno Smith’s backup, and the the former Washington Commander could battle for the starting role at some point in the future.

The quarterback position for the Seattle Seahawks is now delicately poised after the franchise said goodbye to Drew Lock (Giants) and traded for Washington Commanders starter Sam Howell.

While the 2024 season will begin with Geno Smith as the starter due to the solid resume he’s built over the last two seasons, the acquisition of Howell now brings a whole new dynamic to the quarterback room.

Smith was the clear QB1 over Lock and has already been named the starter for next season by new head coach Mike Macdonald. However, it reportedly was a closer call than fans might think.

According to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, a source stated that Howell had the tools to push Smith for the starting role before Macdonald made the decision public.

Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7).

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

“General manager John Schneider told Seattle Sports 710 AM that quarterback Geno Smith is “the guy” and that Howell is coming in to back him up,” Henderson wrote. “But one Seahawks source said he thinks Howell has the talent and drive to push Smith for the starting job. ‘He’ll battle his ass off,’ the source said.”

Howell did show flashes last season, albeit fleetingly, as the Washington offense was one of the worst in football. However, in Seattle, there is a case to be made that there is more offensive talent for Howell to latch onto.

With Geno the starter to begin the season, should things not get off to a good start, and given Smith’s contract for the 2025 season ($25 million cap saving with a post-June 1 cut), Howell could feasibly get a chance to stake his claim for the starting role.

While it seems like a long shot right now, Howell has shown that he has the talent to be a starter in the NFL. In a situation like Seattle, with the offensive weapons and new defensive scheme under Macdonald, Howell could succeed in a way he couldn’t in Washington.

Entering training camp, it will be fascinating to see how the Smith/Howell tandem works. Smith missed two games this past season due to injury, giving Howell more of a reason to stay ready headed into his first year in Seattle.