The Dallas Cowboys have added some intrigue to their quarterback room in 2026 via free agency, signing veteran quarterback and former Washington Commanders starter Sam Howell on Tuesday night.
“Source: QB Sam Howell to the Cowboys on a one-year deal,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account.
Howell spent the 2025 season as a backup quarterback on the Philadelphia Eagles. He played 2 seasons for the Commanders in 2022 and 2023 and started all 17 games in 2023.
“Howell made his first start vs. Dallas in 2022 with Washington,” ESPN’s Todd Archer wrote. “Cowboys now have four QBs in Dak Prescott, Joe Milton III, Will Grier and Howell.”
Hurts & McKee Firmly Entrenched With Eagles
With Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee firmly entrenched at 1-2 for the Eagles at quarterback, it didn’t leave much room for Howell, who was traded 3 times in 2 years leading up to the 2025 season.
Several insiders believed Howell could fetch decent money as a high-level QB2 and put himself on a team where he could be counted on as a starter in a pinch in free agency, which there’s no guarantee of in Dallas.
From PHLY: “The Eagles traded for Sam Howell when Kyle McCord didn’t look like he had what it took, and it’s reasonable to think if they do trade away Tanner McKee that Sam Howell would be brought back as the backup quarterback … I’m not saying he’ll get the opportunity to, but I think Sam Howell thinks he can find a better situation where he’ll get a backup job where there’s a clearer path to being a starting quarterback again.”
Eagles Made Surprise Move in Howell Trade
The Eagles made a surprise move and traded with the Minnesota Vikings for Howell on August 24, ostensibly bringing him in to be the backup for Hurts with McKee nursing some minor injuries to start the season.
Howell had one of the worst seasons for a starting NFL quarterback in recent memory in 2023, when he went 4-13 and led the NFL with 21 interceptions.
“In exchange for Howell, the Vikings received a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Eagles,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote. Philadelphia received a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Vikings along with Howell.”
Howell was traded from the Commanders to the Seattle Seahawks in March 2024 and from the Seahawks to the Vikings in March 2025.
“The Philadelphia Eagles are trading for QB Sam Howell,” NFL reporter Chase Senior wrote on his official X account. “Tanner McKee has a finger injury and might not be available for week 1. The Eagles couldn’t go into the start of the season with Kyle McCord as the backup, which is why they’re making this move. Funny enough: The Vikings are signing (former Eagles QB) Carson Wentz to replace Howell.”
Cowboys Traded for Milton Before 2025 Season
Adding Howell will create fierce competition to be Prescott’s backup in 2026 and be 1 play away from running what could be the NFL’s most high-octane offense.
Milton, 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds, has been a popular “what if he could?” option for Cowboys fans since the team traded for him before the 2025 season. Milton was a 6th round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2024 NFL draft and started 1 game for them as a rookie before he was traded to the Cowboys in exchange for a 5th round pick in April 2025.
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