NFL coaches, scouts offer surprising pre-draft evaluation of Will Howard

Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, coaches, executives and scouts from around the league offered insight on former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero received mixed opinions on Howard, who led the Buckeyes to a national championship this past season.

“He played really well down the stretch,” an AFC executive said of Howard, per Pelissero. “He’s a bigger guy (6-4 1/4, 236). He has some running ability. I thought he was going to be a little faster. But he kind of came on late. His arm’s, frankly, a little disappointing for his size. Not a lot of velocity and drive and zip on it.

“I thought he was more of a big play-action thrower. But then towards the end of the year, he made some plays off balance, different arm angles. I was like, F—, I didn’t think he could do that. Smart guy, really good kid.”

Howard certainly boosted his draft stock during the Buckeyes’ run to their first national title since 2014. In his lone season with the Buckeyes, Howard amassed 4,010 passing yards and 35 touchdowns while only throwing 10 interceptions.

Howard’s arm wasn’t his only threat. The 6-foot-4 QB also racked up 226 yards and seven TDs in the ground game this past season.

In Ohio State’s four-game run through the College Football Playoff, Howard tallied 1,150 passing yards and eight touchdowns compared to just two interceptions. Despite Howard’s postseason success, not everybody is convinced that Howard is better than some of the other options in the draft.

“You see him making NFL throws on tape,” an NFC quarterbacks coach said. “He has limits on his athleticism. You could argue it really comes down to preference when you’re looking at Howard, (Kyle) McCord and Quinn Ewers. What’s a coach value?

“The cool thing about Howard is you see him throw it with Chip (Kelly) last year. Chip’s come pretty full circle in what he’s done since being in an NFL offense. You see NFL concepts. You see playing him under center sometimes, which is a far cry from the Oregon days.”

Others are more optimistic about Howard’s potential at the next level. Specifically, one AFC quarterbacks coach believes that if Howard finds a good fit, he could thrive.

“He’s big. He’s athletic,” the coach said. “Mechanically, that front leg gets locked. There’s a couple things you’d like to tweak. But he has the size and the athletic ability and the mind to do it. You’ve got to get him to a place where he can flourish there.”

The 2025 NFL draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the first time. Round 1 will begin on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. Rounds 2 and 3 will ensue on Friday, and Rounds 4 through 7 will follow on Saturday. The draft will be broadcast on ESPN and ABC.