Commanders news: Ben Johnson, Sam Howell, Adam Peters and Drake Maye

Commanders QB Sam Howell's mental challenges

It was a rocky road for Sam Howell during his first season as the Washington Commanders starting quarterback. There were incredible highs. There were tremendous lows. It wasn't the easiest situation to walk into, but the signal-caller conducted himself impeccably all things considered.

That might not be enough for Howell to get another season under center. The Commanders are embarking on a new era. They have the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. All signs point to the former fifth-round pick being demoted when push comes to shove.

This is out of Howel's control right now. The signal-caller discussed the mental challenges throughout his rollercoaster campaign via Sports Illustrated. Staying focused on the now rather than worrying about the long-term future seemed to be the primary factor behind the North Carolina product staying on an even keel while all around him crumbled.

"I mean, I think I've always been pretty focused. It's kind of something that's come natural to me just being able to stay focused on the task at hand and you know take it one week at a time. The good thing about this league is if you have a bad game, you got another game the next week, so you got to have a quick turnaround and set your focus to the next game. I think when you have that take it one day at a time approach it's easy to get through."

- Sam Howell via Sports Illustrated

Howell has certain traits normally associated with highly productive quarterbacks. His flaws didn't progress well enough under the guidance of Eric Bieniemy and Tavita Pritchard. That - above all else - is why the Commanders will likely go in a different direction.