Sam Howell’s latest comments prove QB is perfect fit with Commanders

The Washington Commanders were long expected to draft a quarterback in this year’s showcase. In fact, in the days leading up to the draft it was reported they performed “a lot of research” on Ole Miss’ Matt Corral and could look for QB help on Day 2.

When the dust settled, Corral went in the third round and Washington pounced on Sam Howell with the first pick of Round 5 after the UNC standout, viewed as a potential first-round pick during the pre-draft process, endured a stunning fall.

In fact, Howell was the sixth quarterback taken, lagging behind Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Malik Willis, Corral and Bailey Zappe, respectively. It’s unclear what prompted Howell’s shocking nosedive, but you won’t find the Commanders complaining as they nabbed excellent value in the former Tar Heel.

Widely deemed as the best pick of Day 3, Howell’s first press conference with Washington showed how grateful he was to join the team.

Nearly two months removed from the 2022 draft, Howell’s mindset hasn’t changed, as he confirmed to reporters during minicamp.

Sam Howell is thrilled to be with the Commanders.

"“There is a great coaching staff here,” Howell told the media. “I am just trying to get used to everything, trying to learn the offense. I’m trying to take it one step at a time, trying to get better every day”“Dyami (Brown) is one of my good friends. Obviously we had a lot of success in college. To be back with him is an awesome feeling. I called him as soon as I got picked. It was super exciting to be back with him, a guy a I know so well and played with a lot.”"

Perhaps we’ll get to see Howell and Dyami Brown rekindle their on-field relationship during preseason. With Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke expected to get most of the reps at training camp, Howell is likely to tack a backseat role as he refines his footwork and gets himself acclimated to the playbook.

Speaking of Wentz and Heinicke, they’ve really put their arms around Howell and embraced mentoring him as grizzled veterans.

"“They both are really great guys. I am just happy to be somewhere where there are two really good quarterbacks in my room who are helping me out a lot. They are giving me really good advice and they are both really talented guys.”"

You simply have to love hearing that! Granted, Howell would have embraced any team that selected him after his unprecedented fall to the fifth round, but that doesn’t matter. In the end, it was the Commanders who ended his slide and the young quarterback is clearly grateful to have joined such a deep QB room.

It might be a while before we see Howell take the field for Washington, but his relationship with Brown, who’s entering his second year, should help the first-year gunslinger develop a strong bond with the locker room.

While Howell continues to develop behind the scenes, Commanders fans can rest easy knowing the 21-year-old is ecstatic about where he got drafted.

That bodes incredibly well for his future in Ashburn.