The Washington Commanders are trying to get where the Philadelphia Eagles are right now — sitting on top of the roost as defending Super Bowl champions.
The Eagles are trying to get something the Commanders have, too. That’s a solid 2 deep at the most important position on the field.
The Eagles made a surprise move and traded with the Minnesota Vikings for former Commanders starting quarterback Sam Howell on August 24, ostensibly bringing him in to be the backup for Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts to start the season.
Howell was the starting quarterback for the Commanders for all 17 games in 2023. He had one of the worst seasons for a starting NFL quarterback in recent memory as Washington went 4-13 and Howell led the league in interceptions (21) and sacks (65).
“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.
Injuries May Have Forced Trade for Eagles
The Eagles have one of the NFL’s most highly regarded backup quarterbacks in former sixth round pick Tanner McKee, but he might not be available to start the season.
The option after that isn’t very appealing with rookie Kyle McCord, a sixth round pick in 2025 who hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in the preseason.
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 Carson Wentz to replace Howell.
The move may have signaled some deeper problems Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman saw in the quarterback room as well.
“The #Eagles were likely going to cut Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Kyle McCord,” CBS Sports NFL Reporter Jeff Kerr wrote on his official X account. “McCord wasn’t ready to be QB3 and neither showed enough to warrant using a roster spot on in camp. Then there is the Tanner McKee finger injury. If Jalen Hurts gets hurt, this team wasn’t going to roll into Week 1 with Thompson-Robinson and McCord. They needed a proven backup that has starting experience (see Sam Howell). The QB room is Hurts, McKee, and Howell. The Eagles love McKee as QB2.
Howell’s Disastrous Season Led to Multiple Trades
Howell’s disastrous season in Washington will probably be remembered historically as the reason the Commanders ended up with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft and, thus, the reason the Commanders landed a true franchise quarterback in 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels.
Howell is now on his fourth team in 4 years.
He was trade from the Commanders to the Seattle Seahawks in March 2024 and spent last season as Geno Smith’s backup. The Seahawks traded him to the Vikings in April 2025 before he was shipped off to Philly.
Former Commanders Starting QB Lands With NFC East Rival