The Commanders would have been happy to build around Howell. It's just that they have the #2 pick this year so they're shooting for the moon. Mariota is no reflection on Howell. They had to get rid of any distractions for that #2 pick coming in (particularly if they're leaning toward Howell's college teammate Maye). Keep in mind, that #2 pick is probably going to sh!t the bed all over the field this year.
JS spent draft capital on Howell. That's definitely outside the pattern of this team over the past decade and signals change. I think you're going to start seeing him routinely draft QBs going forward. Penix is the obvious wildcard this year if he's sitting there at #16 and again if he's still sitting there after a tradedown (or two). If that doesn't happen, then Howell is their "rookie" for this year. I just don't think JS is going to treat this position in the draft the same way it has been.
I believe that they are bringing in Mariota to backup Daniels, but we will see.
Doesn't Howell actually qualify as your item "2. Very cheap backup that actually may challenge Geno"? I'd think he does.
I wanted Penix in this years draft also, but it looks unlikely given the overall draft board and Seahawks lack of picks. To me this says Grubb has reviewed Howell thoroughly and given his stamp of approval that he can build a quality offense around Howell. Recall Pete passed on some of his USC players we thought he'd choose in the draft in favor of other guys. Would love Penix here under Grubb, just don't think it can happen. I'd be OK with the UW OL guy everybody likes at #16, or BPA, e.g., the Georgia TE guy.
Nix is older than Howell, and Howell played well for a bad team in college while Nix had to go to a team with offensive talent before he looked good. Give me Howell over Nix any day of the week, particularly considering the low investment cost.
It could be that they're hedging against him not being there. They may be thinking that there is going to be a crazy run on QB's that are going to sweep up McCarthy and Penix in the mix. They'll have to weigh the opportunity cost of passing on him for a first round blue chipper or a couple 2nd-3rd rounders via trade down.
You can never tell how a rookie can perform, but I don’t see any weaknesses in Nix. His college stats were great, and showed on pro day he can make every throw in the book. Seahawks also have offensive talent.
Bo Nix's 3 years at Auburn:
That’s about as irrelevant as anything I can think of. The scouts will judge him on his 2023 tape, Senior Bowl, Pro Day performance, and private interviews.
I'd rather have neither, but Howell over Nix any day.
Howell is younger than Nix. And the same age as Penix.
Good NFL teams will go back and view film of players of their entire college career’s some will even go as far back as high school.
You said Nix's college stats were great. I was just pointing out they weren't until he went to Oregon. So if my point was irrelevant, so was yours.
Howell is 6 months younger than Penix.
