Ohio State quarterback Will Howard withstood criticism after a disappointing loss to Michigan and responded emphatically by taking an aggressive approach and earning a victory over Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Is a national championship next?

The Buckeyes certainly appear to have the talent to top the table, but three more wins would require Howard to prove that his performance against Michigan was just an aberration.

The former Kansas State starter had a good season after transferring to Ohio State. He completed 73.2 percent of passes for 3,171 yards, 29 touchdowns and nine interceptions, as well as seven touchdowns on the ground while working with arguably the most talented offensive core in the country.

Here’s a look at Howard’s NFL Draft prospects and where he could end up in April.

SN’s PLAYOFF HQ: Live CFP Results | Updated CFP mount | Complete CFP schedule

Will Howard mocks draft projection

Howard is not expected to be a first-round pick. He is more likely to feature on day three, when rounds four through seven take place.

The Ohio State senior does not appear on SN’s Vinnie Iyer’s top 100 bigs list, which includes six quarterbacks, and he is ranked No. 160 overall in the NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus rankings (No. 7 among quarterbacks).

Even in a much thinner quarterback class than last year, Howard doesn’t appear to be on the NFL’s radar as a potential franchise quarterback. Most quarterbacks drafted after the second round are selected as developmental prospects that teams want to mold into either a viable backup option or, in rare cases, a capable starter.

While Howard put up strong numbers in 2024, he did so with an excellent group around him and he still had his share of turnover plays. Considering he’ll be 24 in the first few weeks of the 2025 season, he doesn’t offer as much potential as some other top-tier QB prospects despite his prototypical size (6-4, 235 pounds).

MORE: Updated 2025 NFL Mock Draft

2025 NFL Draft QB Rankings

Here are the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to SN’s Vinnie Iyer.

The NFL Mock Draft Database, which takes into account the average of dozens of major boards, has Howard as the No. 7 quarterback in the draft:

Six quarterbacks went in the first round of the 2024 draft, but the 2025 class is significantly thinner. If he were the No. 7 quarterback on the field, Howard would likely be a developmental Day 3 pick.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS