NFL Draft film room: What did Howard show in Kelly’s offense?

The former Ohio State quarterback could reunite with his offensive coordinator in Las Vegas

Expect the Las Vegas Raiders to be interested in former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, especially after the Raiders hired the Buckeye’s former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to the same position.

After transferring from Kansas State in the offseason, Howard set several career highs in 2024 with a 73.0 completion percentage, 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Those figures were nearly 12 percentage points, about 1,400 yards and 11 more touchdowns than his previous bests.

Diving deeper, Howard also led the Big 10 with 22 “big-time throws”, according to Pro Football Focus. Granted, that number is inflated by playing in more games but his 5.0 percent BTT rate was fourth among quarterbacks with at least 200 dropbacks and his 85.7 passing grade ranked third.

At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds with a big arm and a National Championship ring, the Ohio State product checks a lot of boxes that NFL clubs will be intrigued by. So, let’s dive into the tape and see what he could bring to Las Vegas.

Starting with the arm talent, Howard has solid arm strength to push the ball down the field. Also, he has impressive accuracy when throwing deep to drop the ball in the bucket and a quick release which the second clip above showcases best.

Ohio State is running an RPO which means the offensive line is run blocking so the quarterback has to get the ball out quickly to avoid a penalty. Typically, that takes a deep shot off the table but Howard has no wasted movement in his throwing motion to get the pass off in time. On top of that, he throws from the far hash to the numbers and hits the receiver in stride for a 22-yard touchdown.

Howard also shows poise when the pressure starts to come. He doesn’t panic and stands tall in the pocket while keeping his eyes up to still take shots down the field. Then, the arm talent seen above can take over, as seen in the first throw above.

The Buckeye’s right tackle trips in pass protection which essentially creates a free rusher on the edge. However, the slot receiver has a great matchup with a vertical route against a defender in a trail position. So, Howard recognizes the potential for an explosive play, stays calm in the pocket and hits the receiver for a 40-yard gain to set up first and goal from the five-yard line.

The Ohio State product has some touch on throws between the second and third levels of the defense which was most noticeable in the Rose Bowl against Oregon. That can help him beat coverage which the second throw above highlights as he puts the ball where only Jeremiah Smith can get it to beat two defenders.

Also, the last clip is a great example of throwing a perfect pass to beat the coverage, dropping the ball in the bucket on the seam route for a touchdown. Additionally, what stands out about that play is how he uses his eyes to manipulate the Cover 2 safety.

By looking to Smith on the corner route first, the safety widens toward the sideline which helps open up the middle of the field. Then, Howard snaps his head around and lets it rip to put six points on the board.

Howard isn’t a dynamic or elusive runner who can make defenders miss in the open field. However, he does have good acceleration and knows how to set up blocks to make plays with his legs.

The first run highlights his ability to set up blocks as the Buckeyes run QB-lead power. He presses toward the numbers to get the linebackers to flow outside which makes the pulling guard’s and running back’s blocks easier. That also creates an inside rushing lane which he exploits for a first down.

On the second run, Ohio State runs a speed option and the backer over-commits to the running back. Howard recognizes that and makes the correct read by keeping the ball. Finally, he turns upfield and shows some burst for a nice gain on the ground, turning second and long into third and manageable.

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As you may have noticed, all the clips above are from the College Football Playoffs. It can’t be ignored that Howard struggled at the beginning of the season and against Michigan as he was the primary reason for both of Ohio State’s losses. He does struggle to adjust when the defense throws a wrinkle in the coverage, which is frustrating for a quarterback with his experience level.

But the National Champion’s talent and tools are there to work with and he should get some credit for playing his best when the lights were brightest. Plus, playing in Kelly’s offense for the second year in a row could help Howard build on the momentum he created at the end of the season and transition to the NFL if the Raiders are interested in him.