Sam Howell made his NFL debut against Micah Parsons and the Cowboys on January 8, 2023, at FedEx Field, running for one TD and passing for another in a 26-6 Commanders win. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
By Bill Jones
The Jones Journal
For the first time since they signed Brandon Weeden on March 17, 2014, the Cowboys have dipped into the free agent pool in the month of March to sign an Unrestricted Free Agent quarterback from another team.
Former Washington starting QB Sam Howell, who started 17 games for the Commanders in 2023, is signing a 1-year deal with Dallas.
The 25-year old Howell has been a journeyman the past couple of seasons after the Commanders dealt him to Seattle in 2024 when they drafted Jayden Daniels with the #2 overall pick. Howell got mop up duty in two games in Seattle two years ago and didn’t get on the field with Minnesota or Philadelphia last season.
But now the former 5th round draft pick out of North Carolina gets a new opportunity with the Cowboys, his 5th team in the last 24 months. He will likely compete with Joe Milton to be Dak Prescott’s backup.
Howell led Washington to two straight wins to start the 2023 season, but the Commanders lost 9 straight games to the end that season. Head Coach Ron Rivera and his entire coaching staff lost their jobs.
Howell led the league with 21 interceptions, 612 pass attempts and 65 sacks as the Commanders went 4-13 in his 17 starts that season. However, he was playing behind an offensive line that included four starters who were on the last legs of their respective careers.
Charles Leno (13 starts), Saahdiq Charles (10 starts), Nick Gates (10 starts), and Tyler Larsen (7 starts) combined to make 40 starts that season. Leno, Gates, and Larsen retired from football shortly thereafter, and Charles hasn’t started a game since then.
All of that to say Sam Howell has some intriguing abilities and traits that could give him a viable chance to win the backup QB job in Dallas.
A 3-year starter in what was a record-setting career at North Carolina, Howell has played a lot more high level football in the last five years than either of Dak Prescott’s backups the last two years, Milton or Trey Lance.