A Vikings’ QB2 Candidate Reportedly Hit the Market
The Minnesota Vikings still have only two quarterbacks under contract for the 2025 season, most prominently, of course, J.J. McCarthy, a second-year player and suspected first-year starter. Brett Rypien, a journeyman and 2024 QB3, is currently the other arm in the building.
A Vikings’ QB2 Candidate Reportedly Hit the Market
Usually, teams have three or even four guys in training camp, so the Vikings are obviously expected to add another one. Additionally, like all other franchises, they need an insurance policy for the scenario of injury to the starter.
At this point, the free agency market is pretty dry. The most prominent names are Ryan Tannehill, Carson Wentz, and, perhaps, an under-the-radar guy in Tyler Huntley. Because there’s not much to be had there, acquiring a passer via trade could make sense.
One trade candidate is Sam Howell, and Seattle’s demoted QB3 could be available.
“The Seahawks are open to trading Sam Howell and have received inquiries from teams interested in acquiring their backup quarterback, sources have told ESPN,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Brady Henderson reported Friday.
They didn’t specify whether the Vikings were among the interested teams.
Seattle made some waves this offseason, trading starting signal-caller Geno Smith to Las Vegas and replacing him with Minnesota’s departed QB1, Sam Darnold. The Pro Bowler signed a three-year deal in free agency.
In addition to Darnold, the Seahawks also signed a contract with their former backup and last year’s Giants backup, Drew Lock. He’s expected to be Darnold’s reserve.
A fourth guy in the locker room is another old friend, ex-Vikings draft pick Jaren Hall, who was released after last year’s preseason, and instead of signing with Minnesota’s practice squad, left for Seattle.
Back to Howell. His 2024 season didn’t go too well after the trade from Washington to Seattle.
The ESPN crew wrote, “Howell, 24, was unremarkable over the offseason and struggled badly in a relief appearance of Smith in December. After Smith hurt his knee midway through the third quarter of a 30-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Howell completed only 5 of 14 attempts for 24 yards and an interception.”
In his previous season, he received the opportunity to start all 17 games in Washington’s subpar offense, and he somehow led the league in pass attempts due to the lack of a running game. That resulted in 3,946 passing yards, 21 passing scores, and 21 interceptions in his second year out of North Carolina. He also rushed for 263 yards and five touchdowns, showing some mobility.
The Commanders went on to draft Jayden Daniels and shipped Howell to Seattle in exchange for a couple of mid-round pick swaps.
According to the ESPN report, Seattle’s GM has stressed that Lock and Howell would compete for the backup role, but if someone offered them a draft choice for Howell, it’s hard to see them turn that offer down.
In Minnesota, Howell would be in a wonderful situation, learning under Kevin O’Connell, who has just helped Darnold make some money, and his presence around Daniel Jones helped him get another shot elsewhere for significant money. Undoubtedly, that’s what Howell wants, too.
His interceptions and number of sacks from his season as a starter are concerning, but O’Connell once acquired turnover-prone Nick Mullens via trade, and Howell is probably even a little more talented.
A similar trade for a QB3 with some experience from another team to bolster their own QB2 vacancy was the route Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell took in 2022, so why not do it again?
Howell, a former fifth-rounder, will turn 25 right after the season opener. He’s still fairly young and has shown some promise in his lone year starting.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.