Vikings get their next player to enter Kevin O'Connell's QB rehab on day 3 of the NFL Draft with a player we identified weeks ago

The Minnesota Vikings made a splash on day three of the NFL Draft when they made a trade to get their backup quarterback, acquiring quarterback Sam Howell from the Seattle Seahawks by moving down just 30 spots on day three. This was a move that the Vikings needed to find a way to make, as […]

Tyler Forness NFL & College Football News Writer
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Dec 15, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) carries the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Lumen Field.
Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings made a splash on day three of the NFL Draft when they made a trade to get their backup quarterback, acquiring quarterback Sam Howell from the Seattle Seahawks by moving down just 30 spots on day three.

This was a move that the Vikings needed to find a way to make, as they didn't have a backup on the roster. Howell provides you a good archetype as the backup quarterback.

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Vikings trade for Sam Howell

The trade was a good one from Adofo-Mensah. They moved down from pick 142 to 172, a 30 spot drop on day three. That's a great value for the Vikings, as they are trying to build a roster to compete for a Super Bowl.

This is Howell's scouting report coming out of North Carolina.

Sam Howell is a tough quarterback with a good, strong build but below-average height for the position. He throws a very catchable deep ball and is able to get distance while also consistently getting a high arc on deep throws. Howell has good overall arm strength and flashes the ability to drive the ball when in rhythm on shorter and intermediate throws.

Being in rhythm is important for Howell. His footwork is inconsistent, which causes balls to spray, or he will take an extra bounce at the end of his dropback that makes him late on more timing-based throws. Howell will also attempt to work deep in his dropbacks to give himself more room to see his routes develop, attempting to compensate for his height. And while he has enough arm strength to make the throws, he has a longer, over-the-top throwing motion that will give him even less room for error in the NFL against better and faster defenders.


The big thing with Howell is that he's turnover-prone. He throws too many interceptions and takes way too many sacks. The 65 sacks he took as a starter in 2023 is one of the highest totals in NFL history.

Overall, Howell has plenty of arm talent to thrive in the NFL and pairs it with grit and the ability to run the ball. He's the latest to enter head coach Kevin O'Connell's quarterback rehab and there is a lot to work with.