Sam Howell's warning to Seahawks QB1 Geno Smith is about to come true

The Seattle Seahawks do not have a quarterback controversy. Yet. Hopefully, the team doesn't and Geno Smith, the presumed QB1, has a ridiculously good season and maintains his role through 2025. Smith is currently signed through next year, just as his presumed backup Sam Howell is.

Seattle, of course, traded for Howell this offseason. The move was unexpected but makes complete sense. Seattle needed a backup to Smith so why not, for all intents and purposes, make a move to add a quarterback who has a full year of starting experience in the NFL and is only 23 years old? Long-term, the trade could turn out to be brilliant and there is little downside.

Howell, though, is young enough and experienced enough to not quite be ready to accept being a long-term backup. He has tasted started in the NFL - he had 21 touchdown passes for the Washington Commanders (and 21 interceptions) in 2023 - and he probably is not thinking, "Hmmm...Well, that's it! I'll just sit on the bench for the next ten years."

Sam Howell won't back down from a battle at Seattle training camp

In fact, this offseason he has said numerous times that he is going to come into Seattle training camp and expect to compete with Smith for the starting gig. Smith has the upper leg, of course. He is older and more experienced than Howell. Smith also has a longer built-in rapport with key offensive skill position players such as DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

Still, Howell has the right mentality. Why give up when he might either earn or be forced into, the starting quarterback spot for the Seahawks? Very few NFL players are probably content entering each season as a backup and thinking they won't play. The NFL is an entertainment business and players want to prove they can entertain, especially quarterbacks.

Howell told Seattle Sports this offseason, "In this league, to be able to play, you’ve gotta compete. And that’s what I’m willing to do. No matter what the situation is, no matter who the starter is, I’m coming to compete every single day...Geno has been great...So I’m excited to be here with Geno and learn from him and just compete with him. We battle every single day...And at the end of the day, we’re on the same team. Whoever’s out there, we’re going to support each other and try to help this team win."

That sounds like a player who is willing to accept his role, but not yet ready to give into simply being a backup. The Seahawks likely don't want him to settle, either. Heck, Geno Smith battled long enough as a backup that he probably sympathizes with Howell's current situation as well.

Both quarterbacks have to learn a new offensive system, though. There is no quarterback controversy now, but should Howell come into training camp and outperform Smith then there might be one and there should be. One thing is certain: Sam Howell is not going to stop competing when veterans report to training camp on July 23.

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