The Carolina Panthers took a step forward in 2024. They improved their win total by three games and seek to keep the positive momentum going in the next season. The 2025 NFL Draft is happening next week, and that is the focus of the team.
Despite that being the main event, the Panthers may have the perfect opportunity to add a hometown hero to the QB room.
ESPN reported that the Seattle Seahawks are open to trading QB Sam Howell. With his ties to North Carolina, the Panthers should offer a fifth-round pick to acquire Howell and add him to the quarterback room.
Although Bryce Young is QB1 and the Panthers brought back Andy Dalton to be his backup for the third straight season, there could be a pathway to acquire Howell. The Panthers own nine total selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, with eight of them happening within the first five rounds. They also have three fifth-round picks, and in this scenario, they offer the latest one of the bunch.
Howell came into the league as a fifth-round pick by the Washington Commanders in the 2022 NFL Draft. In 20 career games (18 starts), Howell has completed 404-of-645 (62.6%) of his passes for 4,139 yards, 22 passing touchdowns, and 23 interceptions.
Those numbers don't look appealing to the eye, but Howell has fallen into the gunslinger mentality. The last time he started multiple games came in 2023 with Washington. Last offseason, he was sent to the Seahawks, but with Sam Darnold and Drew Lock as QB1/2, there isn't much room for Howell. He didn't start any games and could have used the time on the bench to see the game differently.
Again, the future is all about Young in Carolina, but injuries happen in this physical sport. Giving yourself more wiggle room at a position like quarterback could go a long way.
Another underrated factor that makes this interesting is that Howell played college football at the University of North Carolina from 2019-2021. Over those three seasons, he threw for 10,283 passing yards, 92 passing touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. Those passing yards and passing touchdowns are the most in Tar Heel history.
The idea of being back to the same state where he played some of his best football would be enticing. Whether or not Carolina looks to acquire Howell is a question mark, but the connection is there. And it wouldn't cost much to land him in a deal.