Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Sam Howell attempted just 19 during his rookie season. The fifth-round pick from North Carolina started Washington’s final game, a 26-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys, and did enough to make head coach Ron Rivera give him a chance to enter the offseason as the starter.
Howell completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Week 18 win. He also rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown. Howell showed a little bit of everything in the win. He also showed he still has plenty of developing to do with his one interception in the end zone.
There was more good than bad, though, and one throw had all Washington fans and Howell’s teammates excited. It was Howell’s 52-yard completion to star wide receiver Terry McLaurin that set up a Commanders’ score.
Pistol diamon formation to set up the play-action after the read-option TD, nice script. Then McLaurin runs by coverage and Howell delivers an excellent throw pic.twitter.com/7LXlJ03TkF
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) January 8, 2023
It was a throw that McLaurin called a “dime” after the game. Howell did everything right on the throw.
According to Next Gen Stats, it was one of the NFL’s more impressive throws of the season. Howell’s pass to McLaurin went for 52 yards but traveled 60 yards in the air. It ranked No. 8 in the 2022 NFL season in air yards.
The longest completed throws of this season, using the air distance from @NextGenStats pic.twitter.com/6KgydhCkSo
— SumerSports (@sumersports) February 14, 2023
How many times in the past decade or more have you seen a Washington quarterback throw the ball 60 yards in the air on a rope and completed it?
No, that throw or game doesn’t mean Howell is Washington’s future at quarterback, but you shouldn’t discount him based solely on where he was drafted.
