The Dallas Cowboys are making moves so far in the offseason. They reached a trade agreement for Rashan Gary, made sure to franchise tag George Pickens to keep him around, and will sign former Cardinals S Jalen Thompson. These aren’t the only moves they have made, as they reached an agreement with Sam Howell.
Cowboys Add Sam Howell to Crowded QB Room
The Cowboys don’t need a starting quarterback, as they have Dak Prescott, and they also have Joe Milton III as a backup. These quarterbacks didn’t stop the Cowboys from trying to add Howell to their roster. Howell is just 25 years old and could be a serviceable piece to Dallas. He is set to join the Cowboys on a one-year deal.
Howell had one season as the starter with the Commanders in 2023. He went 4-13 and threw for 21 touchdowns. But with the touchdowns, he matched each touchdown with an interception as he threw 21 interceptions in that same season. In 2023, Howell ranked 31st in PFSN’s NFL QB Impact score with a grade of 64.7.
Cowboys plan on signing QB Sam Howell to a 1-year deal a source says.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) March 11, 2026
He evidently didn’t do enough to keep the job and the Commanders moved on to drafting Jayden Daniels. Washington won’t regret their choice. Howell left Washington for Seattle, where he appeared in just three games in 2024 and didn’t play any games for any team in 2025.
Howell still has something to prove in the NFL if he gets a chance. The Commanders’ roster that he was quarterbacking was a poor one, but that can’t excuse all of his faults. He showed some flashes, though, giving reason for the Cowboys to believe that he could shine with the weapons in Dallas if he is ever called upon.
Milton has gotten some action with Dallas, although very limited, and he hasn’t proven that he’s going to be consistent if Prescott does go down. Therefore, the Cowboys went out to bring in Howell to add some competition to this quarterback room.
The Cowboys’ offense is dangerous with Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb, and Pickens. It’s an encouraging sign to see the Cowboys make moves on the defensive side of the ball to help out the offense while also trying to maximize the offensive potential in case of an injury to Prescott. If the team can put together solid units on both sides of the ball, the team could see itself work its way back into contention.
