Sam

Howell

Johnson is the only notable player on this list, and he was ruled out on Thursday. The Eagles are operating at near full strength as they prepare to host the 8-3 Bears in a clash of division leaders.

Rapoport noted that Cincy called nearly every team with three viable quarterbacks on the roster, so Carr was simply one of many names on a long list. Rapport also mentioned Sam Howell and Davis Mills as options. It’s unclear if the Bengals moved on from Carr after he told them he plans to stay retired or if the Saints turned down a potential trade. New Orleans still holds Carr’s rights despite his retirement. Either way, the fact that Carr didn’t come out of retirement to throw to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins suggests he truly is done with football. If there were ever going to be a situation to lure him off the coach, it would have been this one.

The Eagles’ main Week 5 injury questions resolved themselves earlier in the week. They are healthy, relatively speaking, as they try to remain unbeaten against the Broncos.

The Eagles also get a 2026 sixth-round in addition to Howell, who brings a veteran presence to compete with Tanner McKee behind Jalen Hurts. The trade likely seals the fate of Dorian Thompson-Robinson and provides the runway for rookie sixth-round quarterback Kyle McCord to be kept on the Vikings’ practice squad, should he clear waivers. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Vikings sign Carson Wentz in the coming hours after the veteran worked out for the team Saturday. Another aspect of this trade is the addition of a late-round pick, which the Vikings could use to add wide receiver help for the start of the season considering Jordan Addison’s suspension and injuries to Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor.

O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly-acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.

The Seahawks dealt Sam Howell and pick No. 172 to the Vikings to move up and take Mills. Mills (6’5"/291) spent five years in South Bend as a gap shooting three-tech, starting 35 games over the last three years as a key cog in Notre Dame’s National Championship runner-up defense led by HC Marcus Freeman. Mills sustained a knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign three games early, but not before he rolled up 8.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks to go with 34 pressures and an 83.1 pass rush grade. Though he’s an able tackler who rarely lets ball carriers escape his grasp, as is evidenced by his sterling 3.4% missed tackle rate, Mills is much more dangerous in the pass game, having posted an elite 14.3 percent pass rush win rate. He has the requisite length and size to be a penetrating 3-4 defensive end who brings the heat on passing downs.

The trade price is a cup of coffee, with the Seahawks essentially accepting a picks swap. They have moved up from 172 to 142 for the price of Howell. Seattle, of course, drafted Alabama’s Jalen Milroe to be its new No. 2 on Friday evening. For Minnesota, it should officially end the chatter of Aaron Rodgers coming to the Twin Cities, perhaps finally shaking him loose to sign with the Steelers. Howell isn’t a particularly great backup, but he is still only 24 years old with a dual-threat skill-set and 18 career starts. He has attempted 645 passes. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has coaxed production out of every quarterback he has ever worked with, and we assume Howell would be no different were first-year starter J.J. McCarthy to go down.

In a recent radio appearance, Seahawks GM John Schneider said that the team is prepared to allow Howell and the recently-acquired Drew Lock to compete for the primary backup role behind Sam Darnold. Schneider may have been engaging in a bit of public negotiating, though, effectively telling teams to up their offer. Jaren Hall currently sits fourth on the depth chart behind them. While Hall would be the odd man out if no trade materializes, seeing Howell depart via a draft-day trade this week would be unsurprising.

Geno Smith is on the final year of his contract and isn’t getting any younger. In addition to that, the Seahawks also have Sam Howell on the roster. Schneider traded for Howell last offseason, but in limited action the former fifth-rounder completed just 5-of-14 passes while throwing for 24 yards and one interception. The four sacks Howell took on 19 dropbacks were reminiscent of his 2023 season with the Commanders, when he was the most sacked quarterback in the league. This year’s draft class isn’t expected to be particularly deep at quarterback, but some intriguing options could emerge on Day 2 or 3 of the draft. It’s possible Schneider and the Seahawks pull the trigger on a rookie if they consider the price to be worth the talent in hopes of finding another gem in the draft.

Smith exited in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Packers and did not return to the game. He could be seen limping on the sideline before going to the locker room and later returned with his right knee wrapped. Macdonald said Smith will undergo imaging and further evaluation on Monday, but the Seahawks could be looking at starting Sam Howell in Week 16 when they take on the Vikings. Howell struggled mightily in relief of Smith, throwing for just 24 yards and a pick while completing 5-of-14 passes (35.7 percent). He also stayed on brand by taking four sacks. All Seahawks pass-catchers would receive an immediate downgrade next week if Howell lines up under center.