Will Howard says he has what he needs to be an NFL QB1 that follows the Ohio State Pro Day

Columbus, Ohio-in what is a crackling class of quarterback largely open and largely shocked, Will Howard of the State of Ohio is not afraid to say that it should be a coveted perspective.

Maybe even a first round? After Howard launched on Wednesday at the Ohio Pro Day, they are in front of a crowd that included five general directors of the NFL and six coaches, he said he believes he was good like any quarterback in this draft – and ready to play as Rookie if necessary.

“I think I showed he can launch the ball at every level,” said Howard. “I feel like my leadership, my intelligence and my strength of the arm (it stands out). I believe in myself. It is not a knocking on any other quarterback in this draft. I think I am the best, and if you don’t feel as if I were the best to go out this year, then why do you do it?

The NFL teams saw Howard (6 feet-4, 236 pounds) producing both in the state of Kansas and in the state of Ohio, where last season he helped the Buckeyes to win the national title. He has returned to the campus in recent weeks in the midst of a dense program of visits and private training, and although Howard was hesitant to share the rest of his pre-draft itinerary, he said he is scheduled for a visit to Las Vegas with the Raiders and the new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the offensive coordinator of Howard last season in Ohio State.

Howard is the number 84 on the most recent Top 100 prospects list of Dane Brugler, AtleticoDraft Guru. Howard is assessed as Quarterback n. 6 In this class that heads for the last month of the pre-draft process.

Howard, 23 years old, started 28 games in four seasons in the state of Kansas before entering the transfer portal in December 2023. He took into consideration the idea of ​​entering the NFL Draft last year, and former executive director of the Senior Bowl Nagy called Howard in January 2024 to invite the quarterback to participate in the first game of the NFL Draft. But Howard refused the invitation because he was traveling to the state of Ohio when the call arrived and decided to play another university season.

This year, Howard accepted a Senior Bowl invitation before deciding to rest in the wake of Ohio State to four post -installation wins and the national title. His best game has come to the end of his university career, which almost certainly goes beyond everything he can do in a training environment.

“This extra year, especially in a place like this, I looked at it as if my final goal was to be a starting quarterback in the NFL,” said Howard. “I felt as if I needed to take a step in a professional direction, and I looked to come to the State of Ohio as a professional step. Being here this year … nothing more than extraordinary things. The best decision I’ve ever made has arrived in the state of Ohio. I had so much outside it, and I feel like I was much more prepared now before before only because of the people here, the development I have taken and also on the defender (in practice).

Not officially, Howard was 43 out of 46 in his pro shots. It started with 40 consecutive completions before one was eliminated.

There seemed to be an emphasis on the intermediate and deep passages. Although Howard mainly launched from the rifle, he also made some shots in the center and showed his athletic ability in a series of launch shots in the back half of the session. Sometimes it has received a little help from talented receivers of large large state of the Carnell Tate and Brandon Inisso state, both returned with the Ohio State for 2025. But Howard launched precisely and quite confidence that, a point in the middle of the training, he played a little aerial guitar in midfield while waiting for the next set of shots.

“I am critical of myself,” said Howard. “It wasn’t perfect, but almost it was. Have a nice day.”

New Orleans Saints Kellen Moore and the assistant general manager Jeff Ireland were the first to greet Howard at the end of his training. The saints hold choice n. 9 In the first round and n. 40 in the second round. On Tuesday evening, the contingent of Pittsburgh Steelers who included coach head Mike Tomlin, the general manager Omar Khan and the offensive coordinator Arthur Smith brought Howard to dinner.

Because Howard is Downingtown, Pennsylvania, the meeting with the Steelers had a special meaning. But Howard was clear that he was just enthusiastic about having the opportunity to realize his professional dream, regardless of where he lands.

“I spent some time yesterday with coach Tomlin and coach Smith, and I really like those guys,” said Howard. “(Pittsburgh) is close to home for me, close to here. You never know it, and everything can happen, but it is certainly a fantastic place. Everyone is.”

(Photo: Adam Cairns / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today via IMAGN images)