2022 NFL Draft: North Carolina QB Sam Howell a tremendous talent

Strengths of Howell’s game

The first thing that stands out for Howell is his arm strength. The velocity Howell generates is excellent, and there isn’t a window he shouldn’t challenge. Howell has the strength to hit on all three levels of the field, and it carries into his accuracy as well, especially when he’s in rhythm.

Deep ball accuracy is something that looked so much better in Howell’s sophomore campaign. Whether it was a rise in confidence or a better rapport with Dyami Brown (or both), Howell showed impressive accuracy and touch down the field, almost always hitting Brown (and others) in stride for huge gains. His deep ball is always placed on the receiver’s track, allowing them to stay in stride through the catch.

Howell excels in the quick passing game and RPO game thanks to quick footwork and a quick release. He also does a great job processing pre-snap and knowing when he can take advantage of off-coverage to convert quick-hitters. This is also apparent when defenses try to send a blitzing corner. Howell takes advantage of that as well, delivering the ball quickly and on time.

While he isn’t an elite mobile quarterback, Howell has demonstrated enough mobility to escape from muddied pockets and make plays on the run. He’s tough with the ball in his hands and isn’t afraid to lower the pads to pick up extra yardage.