The Seattle Seahawks signed free agent quarterback Sam Darnold this spring after agreeing to trade the starter of the past three seasons, Geno Smith, to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The trade of Smith reunited him with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, while allowing Seattle to get younger at the position. However, the Hawks then signed former Denver Broncos, Seahawks and New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock in free agency before adding Jalen Milroe out of Alabama in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

That left the 2024 backup quarterback, Sam Howell, in an odd spot, as Seattle obviously was not about to carry four quarterbacks on the regular season roster. That conundrum was solved Saturday, though, when the Seahawks trade Howell to the Vikings in a pick swap that saw Seattle move up 30 spots in the fifth round, from 172 to 142, in exchange for Howell.

The @Seahawks traded QB Sam Howell and no. 172 (5th round) to Minnesota for no. 142 (5th round).

— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) April 26, 2025