- Howard is great at avoiding sacks: Over the last three years, the Buckeye quarterback sits in the 81st percentile in sack rate.
- Howard leaned heavily on play-action in college: Howard’s inferior play on standard dropbacks means that his skill set is best maximized in a heavy play-action offense in the NFL.
- 2025 NFL Draft season is here: Try PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2025’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team.
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
The 2025 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and the draft class is rounding into shape. With the PFF big board live and mock draft season in full swing, teams and analysts are gaining a clearer picture of the top prospects and the deepest position groups in this year’s class.
Projecting college football stars to the NFL is never an exact science, but using PFF grades and advanced data, we can get a clearer picture of how prospects might transition to the next level. By analyzing performance trends, key metrics and positional benchmarks, we can identify which players are best positioned to succeed — and which may face challenges — when making the jump from college to the pros.
Let’s take a look at Will Howard, who earned an 86.4 overall PFF grade at Ohio State last season, including a 96.3 PFF passing grade on deep passes. Despite his late-season surge and leading the Buckeyes to a championship, he’s projected to be taken on Day 3.
SCOUTING SUMMARY
Howard is a former three-star quarterback who excelled in both football and basketball at Downingtown West High School, scoring over 1,000 points on the court. He committed to Kansas State, where he played for four seasons, earning sporadic starts in his first three years before locking down the full-time starting job in 2023. He then transferred to Ohio State, where he had his most effective and productive season, leading the team through the College Football Playoff to a national title.
Howard brings adequate size to the pros, ranking above the 75th percentile in both height and weight. He is also a good athlete for his size, making him a viable threat on scrambles and RPOs. While his arm strength isn’t elite, it’s good enough to attack every level of a defense. Howard is experienced in reading all forms of coverage and is particularly comfortable throwing hole shots against Cover 2.
His fundamentals are generally solid, though he has an elongated follow-through with his back leg. His performance against Michigan was somewhat concerning — he looked skittish at times — but he rebounded with a strong final month of the regular season and an excellent bounce-back game against Tennessee.
WINS ABOVE AVERAGE
WAA represents the number of wins a player is worth over an average college football player and is a metric that evaluators can utilize to assess performance. It combines how well a player performed in each facet of play (using PFF grades) and how valuable each facet is to winning football games. The result is a first-of-its-kind metric that allows for cross-positional valuation and predicts future value at the player and team levels.
HOW WILL HOWARD RANKS IN THE STABLE METRICS (2022-24)
Stable metrics are more reliable indicators of future success than volatile, high-variance stats. The most stable facets of a player’s performance are those measured over larger sample sizes, even if they may seem less impressive or “easier” on the surface. These metrics provide consistency, making them more predictive over time. While unstable metrics may capture highlight plays, they often fluctuate from year to year. Prioritizing stability provides a clearer picture of a player’s true ability and long-term potential.
The two stable metrics that stand out on Will Howard’s profile are his grade without play action and his sack rate. While the other top quarterback prospects in this draft have pretty damning sack rate numbers, Howard excels in that category and keeps his offense from getting behind the chains.
However, Howard seems to need play action to perform at his best, as he’s in the 20th percentile in grading without play action.
WILL HOWARD‘S PROJECTIONS
In league-average circumstances, here are Howard’s projections for yards per attempt and completion percentage as an NFL rookie:
Howard’s rookie-year projections in a league-average scheme with a play-action rate of 25%, a pressure rate of 35%, a quick-throw rate (under 2.5 seconds) of 50% and a short-throw rate (before the sticks) of 63%.
Let’s look at how Howard does when we make his situation better. With a low pressure rate, a high play-action rate and more downfield looks, we see a decent jump in his projected completion percentage, but his projected yards per attempt and passing grade per snap stay the same.
Howard’s 2024 projections in a situation where 25% of his dropbacks have pressure and he runs play action on 30% of his dropbacks.
Let’s also look at how Howard does when we make the situation less favorable. With a high pressure rate and a low play-action rate, Howard’s projected yards per attempt and completion percentage do take a slight dip. Considering Howard’s struggles without play action in college, it would be very beneficial for him to land in an offense with a high play-action rate in the NFL.
Howard’s 2024 projections in a situation where 40% of his dropbacks have pressure and he runs play action on just 15% of his dropbacks.
BOTTOM LINE FROM PFF’s 2025 NFL DRAFT GUIDE
Howard checks many boxes: experience, size and a willingness to attack all coverages. He doesn’t have special arm talent, but he has the potential to develop into an NFL starter.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Club World Cup daily rankings: Real Madrid makes a leap, Bayern Munich still top
The middle phase of the group stage has come and gone. From here, every match will make or break a team’s hopes of advancing to a highly lucrative knockout phase. That’s why they’re here, after all.Welcome to another edition of The Athletic’s Club World Cup daily power rankings — our look at who’s hot, who’s not, and how the struggle for global club supremacy is shaking out. Share your comments below and don’t be shy to disagree. We’ll run the rankings up to before the semifinals.AdvertisementWe will update these rankings at the end of each day’s play. Unlike our pre-tournament rankings that focused on the historical might of each team, this series is designed to live very much in the present. Simply, we’ll use the results of this competition alone to project who has the best chance to win the trophy […]
Champagne Problems: Why the Thunder’s Locker Room Celebration Was Delayed
<!--> The Oklahoma City Thunder had just won the NBA championship, the on-court ceremony was over and they were heading to the locker room to start the party. This typically includes the traditional spraying of champagne all over everyone and everything.And the Thunder were ready to partake in all that."Where's the champagne at?" some yelled on their way into the room.It was ready. Problem was, the Thunder were not.See, the Thunder are young, the youngest NBA champion in nearly a half-century. And, well, it turns out that most players had absolutely no idea how to pop the corks."None of us knew how to do it," center Isaiah Hartenstein said, revealing that some players — yes, moments after winning the NBA title — were going onto YouTube in search of tutorials for how to make the bubbles fly.Enter Thunder guard Alex […]
Mexico wins Gold Cup group despite scoreless draw vs. Costa Rica
<!--> Mexico tied Costa Rica 0-0 on Sunday night to win Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and will play Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals.Mexico's Santiago Gimenez appeared to score on a bicycle kick in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed by Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar following a video review. Giménez appeared to be offside when Carlos Rodríguez lofted the ball into the penalty area following a free kick. Orlando Galo's headed clearance attempt went in front of the goal to Giménez.Mexico, unbeaten in 10 Gold Cup matches against Costa Rica, finished even with the Ticos at seven points but won the group on goal difference.El Tri, which defeated the Dominican Republic and Suriname in their first two matches, will play Saudi Arabia next weekend while the Costa Ricans will face the United […]
Kevin Durant’s most awkward moment after being traded to the Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant experienced one of the most surreal sports moments of his career - and it didn't happen on the court.During Fanatics Fest in New York City, while seated on stage for a basketball panel, Durant learned in real time that he'd been traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. The announcement sent shockwaves through the room and across social media.Kevin Durant cant' stop smiling after getting a trading card from an NBA legendThe moment unfolded as fan reactions erupted: attendees began shouting, "You're headed to Houston." At first, Durant seemed unsure, pausing mid-sentence, asking for confirmation. Once confirmed, his response was simple - and delightfully candid: "We're gonna see, man. We're gonna see." The brevity and honesty of his reply turned this moment into one of the most unforgettable trade reactions ever. The look on Durant's face […]
Tyrese Haliburton and the most shattering moment as he welcomed the Pacers after losing the NBA title
In Game 7 of the NBA Finals, with Indiana Pacers awaiting a chance to rewrite its destiny, Tyrese Haliburton delivered another allstar performance early on for the Pacers. But his journey ended in cruel fashion - just under five minutes into the first quarter, while driving to the hoop, Haliburton collapsed, grabbing his lower right leg. The arena fell silent as he thudded to the hardwood in visible anguish, slapping the court in pain. It was immediately clear - this was not a minor injury.Tyrese Haliburton forced to leave game 7 after he went down with apparent injuryAs the shock reverberated across screens, social media erupted. The BarstoolSports X account reacted quickly with a blunt statement: "Devastating: Tyrese Haliburton Sure Looks Like He Just Tore His Achilles And Now Pacers Fans Are In A Dark Place."Within moments, another post empathised directly: […]
The NBA curse that plagued Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard
In an eerie twist during the 2025 NBA playoffs, three of the league's premier players - Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard - each suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. While the injuries alone were shocking, one detail has sparked speculation among fans and analysts alike: all three players wore the number 0 on their jerseys. Is it simply a bizarre coincidence, or is jersey number 0 becoming synonymous with postseason misfortune?Tyrese Haliburton forced to leave game 7 after he went down with apparent injuryThe sequence began in late April when Lillard, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, tore his Achilles in Game 4 of a tightly contested first-round series. Weeks later, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum experienced a similar fate in the Eastern Conference semifinals against New York.Then, on the biggest stage of all-Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Indiana […]
Related
Club World Cup daily rankings: Real Madrid makes a leap, Bayern Munich still top
The middle phase of the group stage has come and gone. From here, every match will make or break a team’s hopes of advancing to a highly lucrative knockout phase. That’s why they’re here, after all.Welcome to another edition of The Athletic’s Club World Cup daily power rankings — our look at who’s hot, who’s not, and how the struggle for global club supremacy is shaking out. Share your comments below and don’t be shy to disagree. We’ll run the rankings up to before the semifinals.AdvertisementWe will update these rankings at the end of each day’s play. Unlike our pre-tournament rankings that focused on the historical might of each team, this series is designed to live very much in the present. Simply, we’ll use the results of this competition alone to project who has the best chance to win the trophy […]
Champagne Problems: Why the Thunder’s Locker Room Celebration Was Delayed
<!--> The Oklahoma City Thunder had just won the NBA championship, the on-court ceremony was over and they were heading to the locker room to start the party. This typically includes the traditional spraying of champagne all over everyone and everything.And the Thunder were ready to partake in all that."Where's the champagne at?" some yelled on their way into the room.It was ready. Problem was, the Thunder were not.See, the Thunder are young, the youngest NBA champion in nearly a half-century. And, well, it turns out that most players had absolutely no idea how to pop the corks."None of us knew how to do it," center Isaiah Hartenstein said, revealing that some players — yes, moments after winning the NBA title — were going onto YouTube in search of tutorials for how to make the bubbles fly.Enter Thunder guard Alex […]
Mexico wins Gold Cup group despite scoreless draw vs. Costa Rica
<!--> Mexico tied Costa Rica 0-0 on Sunday night to win Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and will play Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals.Mexico's Santiago Gimenez appeared to score on a bicycle kick in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed by Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar following a video review. Giménez appeared to be offside when Carlos Rodríguez lofted the ball into the penalty area following a free kick. Orlando Galo's headed clearance attempt went in front of the goal to Giménez.Mexico, unbeaten in 10 Gold Cup matches against Costa Rica, finished even with the Ticos at seven points but won the group on goal difference.El Tri, which defeated the Dominican Republic and Suriname in their first two matches, will play Saudi Arabia next weekend while the Costa Ricans will face the United […]
Kevin Durant’s most awkward moment after being traded to the Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant experienced one of the most surreal sports moments of his career - and it didn't happen on the court.During Fanatics Fest in New York City, while seated on stage for a basketball panel, Durant learned in real time that he'd been traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. The announcement sent shockwaves through the room and across social media.Kevin Durant cant' stop smiling after getting a trading card from an NBA legendThe moment unfolded as fan reactions erupted: attendees began shouting, "You're headed to Houston." At first, Durant seemed unsure, pausing mid-sentence, asking for confirmation. Once confirmed, his response was simple - and delightfully candid: "We're gonna see, man. We're gonna see." The brevity and honesty of his reply turned this moment into one of the most unforgettable trade reactions ever. The look on Durant's face […]
Tyrese Haliburton and the most shattering moment as he welcomed the Pacers after losing the NBA title
In Game 7 of the NBA Finals, with Indiana Pacers awaiting a chance to rewrite its destiny, Tyrese Haliburton delivered another allstar performance early on for the Pacers. But his journey ended in cruel fashion - just under five minutes into the first quarter, while driving to the hoop, Haliburton collapsed, grabbing his lower right leg. The arena fell silent as he thudded to the hardwood in visible anguish, slapping the court in pain. It was immediately clear - this was not a minor injury.Tyrese Haliburton forced to leave game 7 after he went down with apparent injuryAs the shock reverberated across screens, social media erupted. The BarstoolSports X account reacted quickly with a blunt statement: "Devastating: Tyrese Haliburton Sure Looks Like He Just Tore His Achilles And Now Pacers Fans Are In A Dark Place."Within moments, another post empathised directly: […]
The NBA curse that plagued Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard
In an eerie twist during the 2025 NBA playoffs, three of the league's premier players - Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard - each suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. While the injuries alone were shocking, one detail has sparked speculation among fans and analysts alike: all three players wore the number 0 on their jerseys. Is it simply a bizarre coincidence, or is jersey number 0 becoming synonymous with postseason misfortune?Tyrese Haliburton forced to leave game 7 after he went down with apparent injuryThe sequence began in late April when Lillard, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, tore his Achilles in Game 4 of a tightly contested first-round series. Weeks later, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum experienced a similar fate in the Eastern Conference semifinals against New York.Then, on the biggest stage of all-Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Indiana […]
Be the first to leave a comment