If you had talked to NFL evaluators after the 2020 college football season, many would have had North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell among their top prospects for the 2022 NFL draft. But Howell struggled during his junior season with the Tar Heels in 2021, leading some to consider him a mid-round prospect in last year’s draft.
Howell lasted until the first pick of the fifth round when the Washington Commanders selected him. Washington reportedly had Howell ranked as its top quarterback prospect in 2022, and if the Commanders hadn’t traded for Carson Wentz, they would’ve selected Howell higher in the draft.
Going back to Howell’s final season at UNC, a lot changed for him. Gone were his top two wide receivers and top two running backs — all to the NFL. Howell was burdened with more responsibility and struggled early in the season. As the season progressed, Howell improved, taking on more of a rushing role to lift the North Carolina offense.
The Commanders had no plans to play Howell as a rookie, hoping Wentz could lead the team back to the playoffs. That plan backfired miserably, with Taylor Heinicke saving Washington’s season until a late-season collapse. That collapse led to Howell receiving his first NFL start in a meaningless Week 18 game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Howell played well in the blowout win, showing his ability as a deep thrower and a runner. That game, combined with what he showed his coaches and teammates throughout practice last season, led head coach Ron Rivera to give him a chance to be Washington’s starting quarterback in 2023.
On the cusp of the 2023 NFL draft, it’s fair to wonder where Howell would stack up against what is considered a solid quarterback class.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. would give Howell a second-round grade, according to John Keim.
If you remember, going into that final season at Carolina in August of that year, he had a first-round grade. He looked really good going into the year. He has the talent to be a starting quarterback in this league. It’s a leap of faith to say he’s our guy, but he could have gone a lot higher than the fifth round.
Where would Kiper stack him in this class?
He’d be in there with Hooker and ahead of [Stetson] Bennett, ahead of Max Duggan, Jake Haener so either at five or six. I would have a second-round grade.
Todd McShay had Howell rated lower, giving him a third-round grade:
I had a third-round grade on Howell. I obviously liked him a bit more than teams in the QB market last year. I always viewed him as a good backup in the NFL and someone who could win some games and keep a team competitive if the starter went down for a handful of games.
McShay said he’d have Howell as his No. 8 quarterback for 2023, behind Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jake Haener. Sorry, just don’t see that, and neither did Kiper Jordan Reid or Matt Miller.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what Kiper, McShay, or any armchair GM thinks of Howell. He has the ultimate opportunity to prove he belongs as a starting quarterback in the NFL. The talent is clear; if Howell can clean up some of the mechanical issues that caused him to fall, he has a chance to be good.