Quarterback Will Howard‘s draft stock should be pointing up after leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to their first national title in 10 years on Monday night.
Against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Howard completed a 56-yard pass to freshman WR Jeremiah Smith on a 3rd-and-11 late in the fourth quarter, sealing a 34-23 victory for the Buckeyes. The QB finished 17-of-21 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns, earning the game’s Offensive MVP.
Before the national championship, ESPN’s Pat McAfee — a former punter — said he was surprised Howard wasn’t generating more hype.
“I like him a lot,” McAfee said of Howard. “I think [ESPN draft guru] Mel Kiper Jr. is projecting him to be in the fourth round. I am baffled by that, especially with what he’s been doing on the biggest stages you can get in college ball.”
In four College Football Playoff games, Howard completed 75.2 percent of his passes for 1,150 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. It’s also worth noting that the fifth-year senior posted the FBS’ best QBR (89.6) in 16 starts.
On his updated big board, Kiper ranks Howard as the No. 6 QB in the class. Tankathon, meanwhile, doesn’t list him among its top 100 players.
However, a team could fall in love with Howard during the pre-draft process. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has some of the tools NFL teams covet.
“A mobile quarterback with the ability to push the ball downfield has a real place in the NFL,” wrote The 33rd Team’s Tyler Brooke in a piece published Tuesday. “He also has significant playing experience at the college level, which is becoming more valuable for teams after watching [Washington Commanders QB] Jayden Daniels and [Denver Broncos QB] Bo Nix hit the ground running immediately as rookies after playing tons of college football.”
Teams with quarterback questions, like the Indianapolis Colts or Pittsburgh Steelers, should consider taking a flier on Howard on Day 2 or 3 of the draft, which is scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay.
The 2025 class doesn’t seem deep at the position, and the 23-year-old may be a sleeper.
