After seeing Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell fail to muster any momentum in a Christmas Eve loss that forced Jacoby Brissett into the game, Joe Douglas and the NY Jets concluded that Howell is a quarterback the organization needs to acquire.
Following Aaron Rodgers’ injury, both owner Woody Johnson and quarterback coach Zach Wilson expressed a desire to add a seasoned veteran quarterback to the roster as a backup. Connor Hughes of SNY nevertheless hinted that the Jets might take a whole different course in spite of this.
Hughes reported that Howell has a number of supporters inside the Jets facility, with some thinking he might develop into a reliable quarterback after spending a few years learning from Aaron Rodgers. Fans of the Jets, does that ring familiar? It ought to!
Although this is by no means a definitive declaration that the Jets are attempting to acquire Howell through trade, the possibility that such a deal could be on the table is suggested by the fact that reports of this kind would even begin to circulate. Douglas would be guilty of football malpractice if that came to pass.
This exact same way of thinking contributed to the Jets’ season-ending injury to Wilson. Wilson wasn’t saved by being near Rodgers and picking up knowledge by osmosis, and Howell won’t be transformed into a worthy replacement right away.
On a poor squad, Howell did throw for nearly 4,000 yards and 21 touchdowns, but he also lost his final eight games of the season and threw a league-high 21 interceptions. Washington, who will probably select Drake Maye or Caleb Williams to replace him, also witnessed him take an absurdly high number of sacks—65, to be exact.
Given that Ryan Tannehill has been strongly associated with the Steelers, the Jets may be better served by pursuing his teammate, Jacoby Brissett. Brissett’s strong arm allows him to make all the throws required, make plays with his legs outside of the pocket, and learn up an offense fast.
A general manager under pressure like Douglas just cannot afford the luxury of taking a Wilson-type developmental gamble with Howell. The Jets should play like a contender and search for a seasoned veteran rather than taking a chance on Howell, who might get another shot somewhere else.
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