Cowboys steal QB from NFC East rival via free agent signing

Cowboys steal QB from NFC East rival via free agent signing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t hesitate to steal a quarterback from an NFC East rival to begin free agency. 

On Thursday, a 25-year-old former Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller took his talents from Philadelphia to Dallas.

“Sam (Howell) has signed,” the Cowboys announced on Thursday.

After spending the start of the 2025 offseason with the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota traded the North Carolina product and a sixth-round pick to the Eagles for a fifth and seventh-round pick.

Unfortunately for Howell, he didn’t see the field in Year 4, as Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee were the only quarterbacks to take snaps for the two-time Super Bowl champions. 

Howell hasn’t always been on the sidelines, though, as the Washington Commanders presented him with a starting opportunity in 2023-24. While Howell threw for 3,946 yards, his inability to get rid of the ball in a timely fashion and read defenses adequately not only plagued him that season, but will also make it challenging to land another starting NFL gig. 

The 6-foot-1 quarterback finished the year with 21 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, and four fumbles. Howell was also sacked 65 times in 17 contests. Unsurprisingly, the Commanders cut ties with Howell via an offseason trade to the Seahawks, where he only appeared in three games.

With Dak Prescott and Joe Milton currently being in front of Howell on the Cowboys QB depth chart, it’s safe to assume the Waynesville, North Carolina native will start the 2026-27 season as QB No. 3.

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