Grading the Commanders latest six moves including Sam Howell trade

Commanders traded Sam Howell

When the Washington Commanders signed veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota early in free agency, it seemed to be the final nail in Sam Howell's proverbial coffin. Although he was dealt a bad hand by the organization during his first season as a starter, there is no room for sentiment as part of Adam Peters' grand plans to get this storied franchise back to prominence.

Peters was highly complimentary of Howell following a meeting between the two. He probably laid his cards on the table during their talk, so being traded to the Seattle Seahawks didn't come as the biggest shock to the former fifth-round pick out of North Carolina.

Not leaving Howell in limbo was the right thing to do. The Commanders needed to extract maximum value and give the signal-caller a fighting chance of carving out a career for himself. He now gets the opportunity to sit behind Geno Smith in a well-run organization to potentially get some playing time in the coming years.

This also leaves no doubt that the Commanders will be selecting a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. It seemed like a foregone conclusion from a long way out, but those in power feel comfortable enough with the options available to remove Howell completely from the equation.

Grade: A

This is a win-win for all parties. The trade allows Howell to start fresh and put his newfound experience to good use elsewhere. It also gives the Commanders higher picks to strengthen problem positions and gives Peters an extra sense of flexibility during the all-important selection process.