2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Will Howard (QB – Ohio State)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Will Howard

Will Howard (QB – Ohio State)

6-foot-4 | 235 Pounds

Background

Will Howard was a three-star dual-threat recruit who originally attended Kansas State. Replaced Skylar Thompson as the starting quarterback after Thompson’s mid-season injury in 2020, starting seven games and going 2-5 with 1,178 yards (53.6% completion rare, 7.0 yards per attempt), eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Started another three games in 2021 and five in 2022 as the backup to Thompson and Adrian Martinez, respectively, going 5-3 in those starts, with 1,965 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions between those two years combined. Took over the starting role in 2023, going 8-4 and finishing with 2,643 yards (61.3% completion rate, 7.4 yards per attempt), 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, adding nine touchdowns on the ground.

Transferred to the Buckeyes for the 2024 season, leading the team to the National Championship and a 14-2 record. Passed for 4,010 yards (73% completion rate, 9.5 yards per attempt), 35 touchdowns and ten interceptions, while adding seven scores on the ground. Recorded a career rushing line of 331-1,147-26 (3.5).

Positives

A proven winner with a National Championship and a 29-14 career record under his belt. Howard is a a well-built quarterback with prototypical size for the position. Nice, clean footwork when dropping back. Doesn’t show a heel click at the back of his drops. Does a good job of getting his cleats dug in and transferring weight to drive the ball.

Alignment on his throws is generally good when working from the pocket. Gets the ball out relatively quickly, both in terms of decision-making and his delivery, with a nice over-the-top release. Flashes the ability to come off of his primary read, re-align his feet and hit a check-down pass. Trusts his arm and teammates; doesn’t need to see receivers wide open to feel confident making a throw.

Howard’s arm talent is adequate, with enough zip to stick shorter throws on receivers when working against man coverage. Generally speaking, has pretty good placement on his throws. Knows when to take something off of his throws to provide a catchable ball against zone coverage. Can complete passes while rolling to either side; does a nice job of getting his hips aligned.

Ohio State often had Howard moving the pocket or throwing on the move off of run-ass option (RPO) concepts. Has good pocket movement. His strong build allows him to shrug off some would-be tacklers and buy time. Not the most dynamic athlete, but has enough juice to run the occasional option and convert in short-yardage situations or near the goal line.

Negatives

Slightly overaged and will be 24 as a rookie. The Buckeyes’ offensive system featured a lot of first-read throws, often off of RPOs on concepts like glances, so his ability to work through progressions wasn’t highlighted as much as you’d like.

Howard tends to stare down targets, allowing defenders to read his eyes and undercut throws. Threw 20 interceptions over the past two seasons as a full-time starter. His base occasionally gets a bit narrow. Some of his throws are wobbly, causing them to sail on him; there’s some flutter to his shots down the seams.

Would like to see Howard rip intermediate shots toward the sidelines, as some of his throws hang in the air, allowing defensive backs to get in-phase. Effectiveness has dipped when there hasn’t been a play-action element.

Summary

A big, strong quarterback with adequate arm strength and pretty good placement, Howard made sure the trains ran on time in the Buckeyes’ offense, which was predicted on first-read throws off of package concepts. He’s a mechanically sound passer in terms of his footwork, alignment and release.

Despite being more of a traditional pocket passer, Howard can also throw on the move or convert on designed runs in short-yardage situations. Like many quarterbacks from such offenses, he’ll have to adapt to working through more regular progressions at the next level. Will need to use his eyes to manipulate defenders to avoid turnovers.

Probably more of a backup, but has enough tools to warrant a mid-round pick.

Projection: Round 4

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Shedeur Sanders (QB – Colorado)

A confident rhythm-based passer who works through progressions, makes pretty good decisions with the football and throws with impressive accuracy/placement. At his best, pulls the trigger early, puts the ball right on his target and works his way down the field methodically through a series of short and intermediate throws over the middle of the field.

However, Sadners can sometimes be too slow to get the ball out, can’t consistently escape from pressure when he’s being pursued and his overall arm talent is closer to adequate. Could draw a wide range of evaluations, as he’s not a perfect fit for every scheme, but still looks to be in the conversation for the first overall pick. He should easily be one of the first two or three passers off the board.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Shedeur Sanders

Cam Ward (QB – Miami)

A highly productive five-year starter who made major strides this past season after arriving at Miami. Ward plays with impressive composure, shows the ability to work through full-field reads and has solid arm talent and accuracy. Is capable of escaping from pressure and making the occasional splash play. At the same time, there are some risky elements to his game, which often come as a result of trying to do too much, leading to dangerous throws, interceptions or fumbles.

Consequently, how willing teams are to tolerate that risk to reap the rewards of his playmaking skills will be interesting to monitor. Either way, Ward is among the candidates to go first overall and should be one of the first couple of quarterbacks off the board.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Cam Ward

Jalen Milroe (Alabama)

One of the most physically and athletically gifted dual-threat quarterback prospects you’ll see, with plenty of arm strength and elite speed, explosiveness and power as a runner who has some work to do on his game. To reach his sky-high potential he needs to show more consistent weight transfer on his throws, increased touch underneath, slightly faster processing and improved play under pressure.

However, those types of issues could be remedied with experience and coaching, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a patient and somewhat risk-tolerant team take a shot on him in the first round.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Jalen Milroe

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