Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard is setting his sights on the NFL draft, and the journey ahead promises to be an exciting one. Projected by many as a Day 3 pick, Howard is gearing up to showcase his skills and make his case to NFL teams through pivotal pre-draft events like the Senior Bowl.
Howard’s draft stock is certainly benefiting from his impressive performance in leading Ohio State to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He’s caught the attention of analysts and scouts, who are busy imagining where he might fit into the NFL landscape.
In a recent prediction, analyst Miller sees Howard landing with the Baltimore Ravens as their fourth-round pick, No. 135 overall. This would place Howard behind one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson, who secured his place as the Ravens franchise quarterback with a hefty five-year, $260 million contract stretching through 2027. With Jackson as the only quarterback under contract for the 2025 season, it’s an intriguing situation for Howard to potentially learn from one of the best in the league.
Dane Brugler from The Athletic gives us a glimpse of Howard’s potential, noting, “Howard (6-4, 240) is a good-sized athlete with enough passing skills to warrant Day 3 draft consideration.” Yet, as Brugler points out, there are areas for improvement, particularly in his ability to make anticipatory throws and skillfully layer the football. The beauty of the situation for Howard is that he doesn’t need to shoulder the entire load—surrounded by NFL-level talent during his time at Columbus, his task boils down to effectively distributing the ball and minimizing turnovers.
As Howard prepares to transition from college to the pros, all eyes will be on how he capitalizes on opportunities to elevate his draft status and carve out a role in the NFL. His journey could indeed be one to watch as the 2024 NFL Draft approaches.
