Will Howard played and won the biggest game of his career so far on Monday — the National Championship game against Notre Dame. Now in his fifth season of college football, the Ohio State Buckeyes QB is nearing the end of his collegiate journey and is likely to declare for the NFL Draft this year.
Advertisement
The big question remains: Where will Howard be drafted and which team will take a chance on him?
Howard has some great physical traits and, like many modern QBs, he is a dual-threat shot-caller. However, his game still has a lot of scope to improve, even at 24. The scouts see Howard as a day-three pick and developmental backup option for certain teams.
Baltimore Ravens could draft Howard as backup for Lamar Jackson
The Ravens are heading into the 2025 season without a backup quarterback. While Lamar has proven to be incredibly durable, rarely missing any games, the team still needs a reliable option to step in if he’s ever sidelined. Rather than spending significant money on a veteran backup, Baltimore could opt for someone like Howard.
Projected as a fourth-round prospect by most scouts, the Ravens wouldn’t require a high draft pick to get him. Joining the Ravens could also benefit Howard, as he’d have the chance to learn and grow behind one of the league’s best quarterbacks. With a strong roster in place, Baltimore provides an ideal environment for Howard to settle in and develop his skills more quickly.
Howard gets compared to Jared Goff
Howard has drawn comparisons to Goff — but not quite in a flattering way. Scouts liken Howard’s journey from Kansas State to talent-rich Ohio State, with Goff’s regression during his time in Los Angeles. Much like Goff, Howard isn’t seen as a game-changer, though he does possess better athleticism than the Detroit Lions quarterback.
The Lions could be in the market for a young quarterback after Goff’s inability to lead them to the Super Bowl yet again. With a stacked roster already in place, the Lions wouldn’t necessarily need Howard to be a superstar right away. If Goff continues to come up short in pivotal moments, Detroit may eventually decide to move on — and Howard could be a logical choice for their future.
Miami Dolphins might need a solid backup
The Dolphins proved this season just how much they rely on Tua Tagovailoa, even with one of the league’s most talented rosters. However, Tua’s career remains uncertain, as his history of concussions raises serious concerns. With the QB missing six games this year, Miami failed to even make the playoffs, highlighting the need for a reliable backup.
If Tua’s injuries persist, Miami would still be on the hook for the substantial guaranteed money they recently committed to him, potentially needing to rely on a rookie for an extended period. Howard could be the solution to their problems. Miami could look at him as a younger, affordable option who could be developed into a long-term contributor.
LA Rams might need a QB
The Los Angeles Rams could find themselves in the market for a quarterback if Matthew Stafford decides to retire. Given their history with Goff, the team might be reluctant to invest a first-round pick in a signal-caller. However, Sean McVay has a proven track record of maximizing talent, making someone like Howard an intriguing option.
Howard brings plenty of promising traits, but the challenge lies in McVay’s complex playbook, which could be a steep learning curve for the Buckeyes quarterback. While Howard still needs time to develop, he’s a worthwhile gamble as a potential fourth-round pick. Ideally, Stafford would stick around for one more season, allowing Howard to learn and grow under his guidance.
The Kansas State Alum has a lot of good traits. He is a physically talented quarterback with dual-threat playmaking abilities. He is good on short and intermediate passing and does possess a good arm if he needs to open up the field.
However, he needs a good pre-snap read and isolated quick-passing concepts to work within the system. His lower body mechanics in the pocket show inconsistency.
Howard is far too unstable in the pocket sometimes which leads to a decrease in accuracy. This also leads to turnovers. Howard trusts his arm too much when he should rely on his reads.
On Monday night though, Howard was at his best. The Ohio State quarterback achieved a remarkable milestone by completing his first 13 passes during the College Football Playoff championship game against Notre Dame. He set a new record for consecutive completions in the prestigious event.
After the Fighting Irish narrowed the gap to eight points, Howard delivered a crucial pass on third-and-11 to Jeremiah Smith, resulting in a 57-yard gain that effectively secured the victory for the Buckeyes.
