“He won a fu*king National Championship.” When the conversation comes down to “Who is the best QB of the 25′ class?” things tend to get a bit murky. On one hand, you have people calling the 25′ class way average compared to the 24′ gems and on the other hand, you have people calling this the best draft class in NFL history. Now, we are not here to discuss the Top 5 draft class – no, sir. We are here to talk about the conundrum that Round 4 is going to give rise to.
Will Howard.
What is the first thing that crosses your mind when we bring out Ohio State’s wonderboy? The guy who brought “the North” to the Vols? The QB who demolished the proverbial kings of CFB (the Ducks)? Or, as Todd McShay puts it: “I see the ceiling, and it is not extraordinarily high with Will Howard… He’s an offensive coordinator’s dream as a backup quarterback in the league.” The best way to describe the 25′ class is High Ceiling vs High Floor. On one side, you have QBs like Milroe with exceptionally high ceilings, and on the other side, you have Howard. In a best/worst-case scenario, Howard either becomes the best backup in the NFL or a mediocre starter.
Well, at least, that is what some of the media want you to believe. Now, to say that Howard didn’t add fuel to the narrative would be a lie. A 5.90 prospect grade at the combine isn’t something you’d expect out of a “National Championship” quarterback. To Bucks’ fans’ dismay, this is a major reason why every mock draft list excludes Howard from the Top 5 or even the Top 10.
Like why would any team in the league take a gamble on him as a first-round pick? Well, let us explain why they should. In pure arm strength and accuracy, Howard might not be your favorite, but decision making and football knowledge? That is where this guy aces the test.
Now you might argue that he had some of Ohio’s finest receivers on the gridiron helping him out, but how do you explain him absolutely running amok against the Vols despite Tenn having, arguably, the best CB at Jermod McCoy? 29 attempts with 24 completion and an easy 311 yards.
All of this at the quarterfinal…. Yeah, maybe Howard was lucky because Ohio’s talent at the receiver and running corp is far above and beyond the rest of the competition but averaging a solid 90+ QBR throughout the quarter, semi and the final, takes more skill than luck.
And maybe this is why something makes us think that a certain $10 billion dynasty could end up taking a bet on the Highest Floor QB of the 25′ class.
$10B NFL team move for OSU Pro Day?
“Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is in attendance at the Ohio State Pro Day today.” If we are to move forward with the “Will Howard as a backup QB dream” narrative, the Cowboys make the perfect choice in the league. Why? With Dak Prescott‘s contract tieing him with the Cowboys till 2028, this gives them more than enough time to build up their backup/starter room.
And starting with Will Howard is the perfect bet. Jerry Jones’s boys have their receiver room crowded and with the addition of Parris Campbell, Dallas is slowly building up to a strong enough receiver corps. Now we won’t say that there is an abundance of “elite talent” over there.
See, ever since Amari Cooper‘s departure, a pothole has been left at the heart of the Cowboys nation. It might take months to fill it or years, but as of now Jones and the staff have done little to nothing to address it. Dak’s contract and the time they are going to get out of it gives them plenty of wiggle room to figure something out.
Plus, in the meantime, Klayton Adams also gets to play around with Howard. At the end, this little tingle in our heart makes us think that Howard as a bright future ahead of him. The question is: Will the OSU’s star be able to break the mold?
Or will he end up becoming the next Kirk Cousins?
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