Todd McShay makes strong statement on UNC quarterback Sam Howell, pegs perfect fit

Todd McShay revealed his 2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 last week, and had North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell being selected with the final pick in first round to the Detroit Lions. McShay had some high praise for his fourth quarterback off the board.

Despite determining that the QB postition in this year’s draft is relatively weak compared to other classes, McShay has four quarterbacks selected in the first round. Kenny Pickett (12 overall), Malik Willis (17), Matt Corral (18), and Howell (32) are the exceptions. Evidently, McShay believes teams will reach for the most important position in sports.

“Howell is interesting — Sam Howell, out of North Carolina — because he’s not that tall, just over 6-feet. But he’s big, he’s strong. He, like [Ole Miss quarterback Matt] Corral, is a competitive, tough runner. He has a big arm. He’s the best deep-ball thrower in this class. And I think a team like Detroit that’s so blue-collar and tough and built on that mentality, I think they could wind up falling in love with a guy like Howell because he’s everything that they embody. So, with that second first-round pick at No. 32 overall, that could be a good choice for the Lions. And, remember, you get to lock him in for a fifth year as a first-round draft pick.”

McShay’s fellow NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper added to the Howell hype as well.

“Sam Howell, to me, is a Baker Mayfield-type, but I think you look at the year he had — the inconsistencies with a result of the four players [North Carolina lost],” Kiper said. “They lost two running backs, two receivers, we knew there would be a drop off in terms of his numbers, but there were games where he still looked like a top-10, top-15 pick, others where, as Todd [McShay] said, second round. So, You’ve got to come up somewhere in between.”

Kiper had the Lions taking Howell in his 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0, but said there could be a chance Detroit leans toward a receiver to build around Jared Goff. “If you’re the Lions, and you want a guy who could develop, maybe be better, we’ll see what Jared Goff is in year two, but I think Sam Howell, late first round, is probably going to come off the board,” he added.

The 2022 NFL Draft is set to begin on April 28 and conclude on April 30 in Paradise, Nevada, but which day will Howell hear his name called?