In three weeks, the new NFL league year begins, and players can switch teams. Rumor season begins next week at the NFL combine, and that’s often where trades are discussed.
Connor Hughes covers the New York Jets for SportsNet New York (SNY) and recently floated the possibility of the Jets trading for Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell.
Here’s what Hughes wrote:
I love the idea of this, assuming he’s available. The Commanders could easily keep him as the backup. It’s not like this is a Sam Darnold, Justin Fields situation. If available, though, I’d prioritize him over anyone else.
Howell proved this year he can play. There are flaws to his game, but none where the season is lost if he has to play. He’s also cheaper. Howell would have a cap hit under $1 million each of the next two years — that matters to Woody Johnson and the Jets. There are those in the Jets building who believe he can play, too. Maybe two years learning behind Rodgers really unlocks his potential and he ends up being his replacement. He did throw for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns on a terrible Commanders team.
The key will simply be compensation. The Jets should do this if all it takes is a pick on the third day of the draft. Howell is just as good of an insurance policy as Gardner Minshew or Jacoby Brissett.
This wasn’t a report from Hughes, it was only him answering a question about New York finding some Aaron Rodgers’ insurance in case the 40-year-old quarterback is injured again. Someone had asked Hughes about the possibility of the Jets trading for Howell.
Howell has two years remaining on his rookie deal, and there is no indication that new Washington GM Adam Peters would trade him. However, veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who spent last season with the Commanders as Howell’s backup, is a free agent.
Brissett shined in limited appearances for Washington.
One Jets’ defender made it clear which quarterback he would prefer. Cornerback D.J. Reed saw a post potentially linking Howell and the Jets and weighed in.
Brissett *cough *cough https://t.co/PGsKgwQTW0
— DJ Reed (@D7_Reed) February 20, 2024
Brissett would be an ideal backup for the Jets. However, would he go to a place where he has no chance of competing for the starting position? And would he want to go into a situation where Rodgers was ahead of him?
Brissett signed a one-year deal with Washington last offseason with the idea he’d compete with Howell for the starting job, but it was clear that former coach Ron Rivera had always intended for Howell to win the job.
Regardless of where Brissett eventually lands, he’ll have plenty of options. Washington is expected to take a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL draft.
