Carolina moved up for linebacker Brandon Smith at No. 120 and…
Carolina moved up for linebacker Brandon Smith at No. 120 and also received pick No. 189, used on edge defender Amare Barno. Washington received two fifth-rounders and selected Sam Howell and Cole Turner. Howell later started all 17 games for the Commanders in 2023 and was traded for additional draft value, while Carolina received only modest returns from Smith and Barno. Washington clearly created the stronger package.
Carolina Panthers Received
- pick 2022 4th round pick (120th overall, Brandon Smith )
- pick 2022 6th round pick (189th overall, Amare Barno)
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 2022 5th round pick (144th overall, Sam Howell )
- pick 2022 5th round pick (149th overall, Cole Turner)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On Day 3 of the 2022 draft, Carolina acquired picks No. 120 and No. 189 from Washington. The Panthers selected linebacker Brandon Smith in the fourth round and edge defender Amare Barno in the sixth. Washington received two fifth-round selections, No. 144 and No. 149, and used them on quarterback Sam Howell and tight end Cole Turner. The move gave Carolina an earlier defensive prospect while Washington doubled its opportunities in the fifth round.
Why Washington Won
Howell provided the transaction's most meaningful return. After one rookie start, he won the starting job in 2023 and started all 17 games, throwing for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns. The season was uneven, but getting a full year of quarterback starts from a fifth-round pick is substantial value. Washington later included Howell in a trade with Seattle that improved the Commanders' position in multiple rounds, extending the value of the original selection beyond his time as starter.
How Carolina Fared
Smith never developed into a lasting Panthers contributor, which weakened the value of moving up to No. 120. Barno gave Carolina more, carving out a rotational pass-rush role and supplying useful athletic depth. That keeps the Panthers from receiving nothing, but the combined impact did not equal what Washington extracted from Howell alone. Carolina paid to concentrate its capital and did not get the high-end player needed to justify the consolidation.
Final Verdict
Washington earns an A- and Carolina a D+. The Commanders turned two fifth-round picks into a starting quarterback, later trade value, and an additional tight-end prospect. Carolina's two defensive selections produced only limited staying power, with Barno the better return of the pair. Howell's 17-start season and subsequent trade value create enough separation to make Washington the clear winner.