Seahawks general manager John Schneider said in a recent radio interview he expects Howell and Lock to battle for the backup job. He also expressed confidence in Jaren Hall, who is presently the team's fourth-string quarterback and was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

When the Seattle Seahawks traded for Sam Howell in March 2024, the franchise sending fourth- and sixth-round picks to the Washington Commanders in return seemed like reasonable compensation for a quarterback with 18 career starts and a ton of untapped potential.