Getty Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell. The life of a backup quarterback in the NFL his hardly glamorous and mostly tenuous — something former Washington Commanders starting quarterback Sam Howell is finding out quickly. Howell is part of trade rumors for the second consecutive season, with ESPN reporting the Seattle Seahawks could look to trade Howell after signing another former NFL starting quarterback in Drew Lock to likely come in as the backup to recently signed starter Sam Darnold