When the Sam Howell trade first went down last week, we got a sinking feeling when we read the Seahawks had effectively given up a third-round pick to get him, according to the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart.
However, a more modern pick valuation chart has a radically different take on the deal. According to the Fitzgerald-Spielberger chart, Seattle only gave Washington the equivalent of a seventh-round pick, No. 241 overall.
Washington got the equivalent of 7-241 for Sam Howell, according to the Fitzgerald-Spielberger draft pick valuation chart.
The misnamed, misunderstood Jimmy Johnson chart says the Commanders got the equivalent of 3-95.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) March 14, 2024
That makes the trade much easier to swallow. Howell has a lot of the same characteristics as Drew Lock, who performed well in backup duty behind Geno Smith last season. If the Seahawks really believe they can get Howell to cut down on his turnover-worthy plays they might get a potentially high-quality starter down the line. For now, Howell is still a largely unknown commodity.
Our take on the trade is that it’s fine in a vacuum, but if it stops the Seahawks from picking a quarterback in the upcoming draft then it’s not so good. There are a lot of ways to build a winning roster in the NFL, but finding a strong starting quarterback on a rookie contract is still the quickest path to being a contender.
Most likely the Howell deal means we won’t be seeing Seattle pick one of the top six quarterbacks in this class – including Washington’s Michael Penix. However, there’s still a chance they may roll the dice on one in Day 3. Our favorite developmental prospect is South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler, but there are many other options in this class that will likely still be available in Rounds 4-5.
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