What It Means:

Howell was drafted by the Commanders in the fifth round last year, but he was kept in the cupboard until making a meaningless start in the final game of the season against the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while adding another 35 rushing yards and a score. Carson Wentz was cut on Monday and Taylor Heinicke is set to become an unrestricted free agent, so Howell's only competition is Jake Fromm for the moment. The Commanders will likely bring in a veteran quarterback at some point during the offseason.

Howell averaged negative-0.21 Passing Net Expected Points per dropback last season and ranked ninth-worst out of the 70 quarterbacks with 20-plus attempts. Heinicke and Wentz both averaged negative-0.02 Passing NEP per attempt, tying for 40th in that group.