

NFL Draft: Sanders falls out of Round 1, Jags take Travis Hunter at No. 2
USA TODAY Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the biggest storylines from Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sports Pulse
Where there’s a Will, there’s an NFL draft.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard was a piece of the national champion Buckeyes’ puzzle in 2024. That doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that the quarterback will be a bona-fide star in the NFL.
While Howard wasn’t expected to be a first-round pick, Day 2 offers a little bit more murkiness. With quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough seemingly ahead of him on draft boards, his landing spots are relatively cloudy as Round 2 gets underway.
Howard didn’t have the best showing of the quarterback prospects during the 2025 NFL Combine, which may have hurt his draft stock just a bit.
So, what happened with Howard and where will he go?
Did Will Howard get drafted?
No, Will Howard did not get drafted in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. The passer is still available for the start of Round 2.
That said, Howard’s name isn’t expected to be called early on Day 2 of the draft, barring a surprise. The passer has a prototypical frame, but teams don’t seem necessarily bullish on his NFL prospects.
Will Howard mock draft
With lesser athleticism and a weaker arm compared to some of the other remaining passers, Howard’s projected ceiling may be bit lower, making him something of a project passer.
Here’s where the Ohio State product could end up in the coming days:
— Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers hold the No. 83 overall pick in Round 3 and the No. 123 pick in Round 4. Entering Day 2, they could add to their QB room while they still seemingly await an Aaron Rodgers decision, or they could hold on until later in the evening and target the passer.
— New York Jets: The Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract this offseason and have journeyman backup Tyrod Taylor under contract for another year. Howard could slot in on Day 3 as a project for new head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand as a low-risk flyer.
— New Orleans Saints: Head coach Kellen Moore has gained a reputation for his work with quarterbacks stretching back to his days with the Cowboys. With Derek Carr’s shoulder injury casting some doubt over his 2025 availability, maybe the Saints could take a Day 3 flyer on Howard before deciding if they want to commit to a passer long-term in 2026 or beyond.
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