Entering his fourth season at Kansas State, quarterback Will Howard is looking to create momentum as a 2024 NFL Draft prospect. The stage is set for him to have a massive senior season for the Wildcats. We’re diving into Howard’s scouting report for next year’s Draft.
Will Howard Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 235 pounds
- Position: Quarterback
- School: Kansas State
- Current Year: Senior
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Top Quarterback Prospects
Despite losing his job to Adrian Martinez to begin the 2022 season, Howard filled in for the injured starter for the final five games of the year. He accumulated career-best marks in completion rate (59.8%), yards per attempt (8.2), and touchdowns (15). He’s played in 22 career games entering the 2023 campaign.
Will Howard Scouting Report
Strengths
- Has a massive, throwback frame that used to be considered the standard for traditional pocket passers.
- Is experienced playing under center in a run-heavy offense that requires him to turn his back on the defense and reset his eyes.
- Displays an NFL-starter-caliber arm that threatens defenses at all levels of the field.
- Able to maneuver around the pocket to buy time and open passing windows.
- Willing to throw off-balance and has the arm flexibility to still deliver accurate passes from unusual launch points.
- Knows he has a strong enough arm to test tight passing windows and the ability to beat defenders with his velocity.
- Improved his efficiency in 2022, showing off improved decision-making, accuracy, and coverage identification.
Weaknesses
- Has almost zero rushing upside with his large frame and limited speed.
- Still needs to see receivers are open before releasing the ball, which can be a problem with less-talented playmakers.
- Heavily relies on his arm to make throws that aren’t there. He can do a better job syncing his lower body to his upper body to improve accuracy.
- Struggled in a run-heavy offense before thriving in a more spread approach. He’ll have to be more efficient in a blended offense at the next level.
- Ended the 2022 season with three poor games against better competition after doing his best work against mediocre teams. His consistency has to improve.
- Tends to be too reliant on the scheme to create an open first read before getting anxious in the pocket.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Seeing a fourth-year starter with only 22 games played is a bit unusual, and yet Howard is trending upward. Between COVID interrupting the 2020 season and Howard being a reserve in 2021, the massive quarterback found his best chance to produce as a relief starter last season.
Howard certainly grabbed the opportunity and ran with it. He looked very improved in 2022 even beyond his statistical leap. His confidence swelled in a spread-heavy offense that relied more on Deuce Vaughn than Howard. He has some unruly cowboy in him that is a bit scary, but it also leads to difference-making throws.
The NFL lacks a lot of large, strong-armed quarterbacks who are capable of getting outside of the tackle box and making odd-angled throws with accuracy. Howard is unique in this regard. Even though he’s not much of a rushing threat, he’ll improvise and is capable of putting the ball on the money.
His consistency with reading defenses both pre- and post-snap and his accuracy on second reads will determine his draft upside. His skillset is similar to Davis Mills, who looks like a high-end backup in the NFL. We currently have Howard with a draftable Day 3 grade entering the year, but that could easily go either direction based on this season.
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