ORLANDO—The Seahawks decision to trade for Sam Howell this offseason didn't create a quarterback controversy for the team.
"Geno's our guy," president of football operations/general manager John Schneider said at the NFL Annual Meeting Tuesday, reiterating a point he and head coach Mike Macdonald have made multiple times in recent weeks since the trade to acquire Howell, who started all 17 games for Washington last season.
Schneider said that not long after Mike Macdonald said, "Geno's going to go into camp, he's the starter, really excited about that."
But even if there's no doubt about the starting quarterback this season, the Seahawks still see a lot of upside in the player they acquired earlier this month. At 23, Howell is the same age or younger than some of the top prospects in this year's draft class, yet he already has 18 NFL starts under his belt, including 17 last season when he attempted the most passes in the league. That type of volume, combined with a lack of a running game, also led to Howell throwing a league-high 21 interceptions while being the most-sacked quarterback in the league, but those growing pains are outweighed by the positive traits and the toughness that showed up throughout the year, Schneider said, including a 312-yard, three-touchdown performance in Washington's Week 10 loss in Seattle.
"He's a football player, tough, square," Schneider said. "I think you guys will find him to be kind of quiet, but our game (against Washington), he was super tough, super strong. He's got a really cool upside… I love the way he plays the game."
Schneider added that he "absolutely" could see Howell becoming a full-time starter again down the road.
Schneider and Macdonald both said that acquiring Howell doesn't necessarily change things for the upcoming draft—if the right quarterback is available at the right time, the Seahawks are still open to drafting one—but it does help keep them from feeling like they're forced to draft one even if the value isn't there.
"It frees you up so you don't feel like you have to—we didn't have a second-round pick, so you're locked a little bit," Schneider said. "So your flexibility doesn't necessarily exist up in that area.
"It frees you up so you don't feel like you have to—we didn't have a second-round pick, so you're locked a little bit," Schneider said. "So your flexibility doesn't necessarily exist up in that area.
Howell didn't play against Macdonald's Ravens defense last season, but Macdonald is familiar with him because the Commanders and Ravens did joint practices together in training camp, and Macdonald also came away impressed with the experience of seeing Howell in person.
"When you play quarterbacks, it's different on tape than when you go against them in-person, and you felt the competitor and that was the biggest thing that stuck out in my mind, and that's someone you want on your football team, a guy that's going to go to battle," Macdonald said. "Obviously the arm talent is there but, the escapability, the ability to extend plays, just something that you respected going against him, that he was out there and battling. So you put that together and then his performance against us last year up in Seattle, it's something that I thought we made a pretty cool jump at by going and getting him."
The Seahawks agreed to a trade for quarterback Sam Howell from the Washington Commanders on March 14, 2024 pending a physical. Check out some of the best photos of Howell throughout the years.
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell passes against South Carolina in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell awaits snap against South Carolina in an NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) prepares to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell before an NCAA college football game against Appalachian State in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) runs against Appalachian State's Noel Cook (20) and Desmond Franklin (6) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Duke in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) passes the ball against North Carolina State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell plays against Boston College during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) passes over Georgia State linebacker Jhi'Shawn Taylor (47) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) looks to pass against Virginia during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) throws from the pocket during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) runs against Florida State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) runs against Wake Forest during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
American Team quarterback Sam Howell of North Carolina runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
American Team quarterback Sam Howell, of North Carolina, throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell throws the ball during Rookie Mini Camp practice at the team's NFL football training facility, Friday, May 6, 2022 in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) works during practice at the team's NFL football training facility, Wednesday, July 27, 2022 in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell passes against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of a preseason NFL football game on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell runs with the ball as Baltimore Ravens safety Geno Stone comes in for the tackle during the first half of an NFL preseason football game ,Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell throws a pass during the first half of an NFL preseason football game between the Washington Commanders and the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, in Landover, Md. The Commanders won 29-28. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) throws the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) throws during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, September 10, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14)scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, September 10, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, right, talking with quarterback Sam Howell (14) before the start of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) warms up before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Washington Commanders' Sam Howell plays during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) in action during the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) throwing the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) walking off the field at the end of an NFL football game against Chicago Bears, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Landover, Md. Chicago won 40-20. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell passes against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium, Sunday Nov. 5, 2023 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe, left, pressures Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell, right, on a throw during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) throws against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 in Seattle. The Seahawks won 29-26. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell throws a pass for a touchdown with Seattle Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor defending in the second of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 29-26. (AP Photo/ John Froschauer)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) runs during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell, middle right, runs for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11), safety Markquese Bell, middle left, and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) passes against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) is seen during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 45-10. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell, foreground, scrambles away from Miami Dolphins linebacker David Long Jr. (51) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) drops back to pass during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) makes a pass during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, December 17, 2023 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) looks to make a pass during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, December 17, 2023 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) passes against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) and teammates taking the field members before the start of the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) throws during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) throws the ball against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) throws the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Jessica Rapfogel)
