Will Howard is approaching the 2025 NFL Draft with a noticeable lack of hype for someone who just led his team to a national title. The lack of noise doesn’t concern Howard. He sees being overlooked as just another bump in the road to being a starting NFL quarterback.
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Elizabeth Merrill, Howard boldly went on record claiming that he is the best quarterback in the 2025 class. He even channeled Shedeur Sanders by saying: “Am I getting hated on right now?”
Will Howard Reflects on Criticism of His Controversial NFL Combine Performance
The 2025 NFL Draft class is proving a difficult one to pin down, as rankings and projections vary wildly between different analysts. The biggest debate of the pre-draft process has surrounded Shedeur Sanders.
Is the talented Colorado quarterback a franchise-changing prospect? Sanders was widely tipped to be the first player taken in late April but has seen his stock take several hits in recent weeks. Time will tell what happens next.
Howard’s media attention has been far less deafening, as the player is expected to wait until Day 2 or 3 to hear his name called. But Howard is no stranger to the spotlight and has already seen both the good and the bad in 2025.
After leading Ohio State to a national championship over Notre Dame in January, Howard found himself the center of attention for way less positive reasons. Howard’s performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis garnered severe criticism, with a British tabloid calling it the “worst combine performance of all time.”
The proof was in an instantly viral video that showed him struggling with timing and overthrowing wide receivers. Howard brushed off the controversial Combine experience as just another hurdle to overcome.
“S*** happens,” Howard told ESPN’s Elizabeth Merrill. “You’ve got to be able to deal with it, and it’s the mentally tough people that are able to overcome those things. I think in my career I’ve just had to do that over and over again, and I’ve realized it’s a never-ending cycle.”
National Champion Believes He’s Best Quarterback in the Draft
Howard’s mentality is something that has helped him through the tougher times of his career, including the harsh treatment and negative comments stemming from his poor Combine showing. Howard’s belief in himself became clear when he boldly declared that no one should be drafted ahead of him.
“I believe I’m the best quarterback in this class,” Howard said. “I think there’s unbelievable talent. But if you’re going to be a competitor, at the end of the day, you have to have that belief in yourself, and I think that’s what helps me get through those adverse times.”
While Howard’s confidence is admirable, nobody is taking his word for it. The Ohio State quarterback will have every opportunity to impress an NFL team in 2025 but he’ll have work to do to earn a starting role wherever he lands.