Sam Howell doesn’t have tons of NFL experience, but he plenty more than any other Cowboys backup quarterback’s had in a while. Even a month before training camp, Howell already feels like he’s here to fill a specific job regardless of the competition.
Background
Years in NFL: 4
Acquired by: Free agency (2026)
Despite a historic run at North Carolina, setting school records for passing yards and touchdowns, Howell was still a mid-range prospect in the 2022 draft class. An athletic scrambler with poor throwing
mechanics and questionable decision making, he lasted until until the Commanders took him in the fifth round. Howell was the third-stringer behind Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke. He did get a start in Washington’s regular-season finale, playing solidly as the Commanders stunned Dallas.
2023 was Washington’s first season after Dan Snyder’s ousting as owner, leaving the franchise in a state of flux. Ron Rivera stayed on as head coach, in what would end up being his last year, and Eric Bieniemy was brought in to run the offense. Moving into rebuild mode, they did not re-sign Heinicke and released Wentz. Jacoby Brissett was signed as a relatively inexpensive veteran to start, but Howell wound up beating Brissett for the job that summer.
Howell started all 17 games that year. The first two went well, both Commanders wins with Howell playing solidly. But Week 3 was a disastrous 37-3 blowout loss to Buffalo in which Howell threw for picks and was sacked nine times. That game was far more indicative of the remaining season: Washington finished 4-13 and Howell wound up with just a 78.9 passer rating, throwing as many interceptions as touchdowns.
The following March, Howell was traded to the Seahawks to be Geno Smith’s backup. He only played a few snaps in one December game. In 2025, the Vikings traded for him to compete for their backup job. Near the end of August, the Eagles sent comparable picks to Minnesota to get him. Howell spent all of last year behind Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee, never appearing in a game.
With his rookie deal expired this March, Howell finally had some control over his future. He quickly signed a deal with Dallas in the first week of free agency.
Contract Status
Years Left: 1
2026 Cap Hit: $2.5 million
The most important detail in Howell’s contract is that it’s fully guaranteed. While $2.5 million isn’t too much for the Cowboys to eat, shoud they choose to, it does speak to their confidence in Howell making the roster this season.
2026 Projections
Role: Backup QB
Roster Chance: 80%
Howell’s 18 career starts, and none of them since 2023, aren’t exactly a wealth of experience. But considering they’re 18 more than Joe Milton’s had, that experience feels like the entire reason Howell is here and got the guaranteed money. Even if Milton has a sensational camp and wins the backup job, Howell brings something that will help Dak Prescott prepare for games and elevate practices.
Remember, Will Grier was beloved but hadn’t played a real game since 2019. And for as long as Cooper Rush hung around, he’d only had five career starts before the eight games in 2024. When Rush left for Baltimore last year, Dallas may have realized something was lacking in its inexperienced QB depth chart. Coincidentally, Andy Dalton (2020) was the last backup QB to have more experience than Howell.
Still just 25, and having bounced around the NFL for the last few years, Howell may still have room to improve. It’s interesting that his last stop was Philadelphia, where he spent practices throwing against Christian Parker’s secondary. We don’t know if Dallas’ new defensive coordinator had a hand in signing Howell, but you’d assume they at least asked his opinion. The Cowboys, including Brian Schottenheimer, certainly knew him from his time in Washington as well.
Again, Sam Howell’s guaranteed money isn’t enough to fully guarantee a roster spot. But it certainly works in his favor, as do Joe Milton’s mixed results in limited playing time. Both backup candidates will be heavily discussed this summer, making for one of the best roster battles of 2026.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
RB Israel Abanikanda | S Justin Barron | G T.J. Bass | C Cooper Beebe | G Tyler Booker | S Alijah Clark | RB Malik Davis | DT Tommy Dunn | CB Cobie Durant | OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku | TE Princeton Fant | TE Jake Ferguson | WR Ryan Flournoy | C Matt Hennessy | S Malik Hooker | OLB James Houston | WR Jordan Hudson | LB Shemar James | G Trevor Keegan | CB Derion Kendrick | OLB Isaiah Land | OLB Marist Liufau | S P.J. Locke | FB Hunter Luepke | RB Phil Mafah | QB Joe Milton III | WR Jonathan Mingo | CB Devin Moore | LB DeMarvion Overshown | TE DJ Rogers | TE Luke Schoonmaker | LS Trent Sieg | WR Anthony Smith | OT Terence Steele | CB Reddy Steward | OT Nate Thomas | S Jalen Thompson | DT Jay Toia | WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling | OLB Tyrus Wheat | RB Javonte Williams | OLB Sam Williams | DT D.J. Withers | S Julius Wood
