After Josh Rosen was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he made waves by declaring that “nine mistakes” were made before him and that he would spend “the next decade or so” reminding teams of their misstep.
Though Rosen’s NFL career ultimately failed miserably, his bold proclamation became a defining moment in his career.
Now, former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is taking a page out of Rosen’s playbook, but with his own twist, and certainly his own expectations.
Howard, who helped Ohio State win the national title in 2024 after transferring from Kansas State, is widely projected as a mid-round pick for next week’s NFL Draft.
Despite the expectations, Howard isn’t shy about his belief that he belongs among the top picks.
In a recent appearance on ESPN’s “Hey Rookie,” Howard shared his thoughts on why NFL teams should take a chance on him.
Asked why a team should draft him, Howard opened up about being overlooked during the early part of his career, particularly by top college programs, and expressed his desire for those schools to regret their decisions.
“Draft me, or you’ll regret it,” Howard confidently stated.
He didn’t stop there.
When pressed on how he would handle being drafted, Howard made it clear that he’s fueled by motivation to prove his worth to those who pass on him.
“You know, when I get to the NFL, I don’t want you guys to miss out on me,” Howard said. “Because every single team that picks a quarterback in front of me, I’m going to make it my mission to make sure that they regret not picking me.”
Howard’s remarks echo the defiant attitude that Rosen once displayed.
While such confidence is a hallmark of NFL quarterbacks, history has shown that it can sometimes backfire.
Rosen’s career, after leaving Arizona just one season later, saw him play only 10 more games in the NFL, and many teams that passed on him in 2018 didn’t find themselves regretting the decision.
Notably, Tom Brady took this same approach and it worked out a little better for him…
It is a bit confusing why Howard is rated so relatively low considering how he checks off all the physical boxes – and certainly all the intangible boxes.
He has every right to have a chip on his shoulder, and if he drops to the middle rounds of the draft – which is currently expected – that chip will grow even bigger.
What are your thoughts on Howard as a prospect? … Do you agree that he’s being extremely undervalued???
