As the 2021 college season draws closer, the draft world will descend to take a look at the 2022 NFL Draft wave of prospects taking the field. The quarterback position will be no different. After a year that saw incredible arm talent and talent overall, the 2022 class has become a bit of a proving grounds.
It’s too early to tell who the riser will be in the 2022 NFL Draft class at quarterback, but there are a few favorites to be the top selections next spring. One of those players resides in the ACC, and is entering his junior season. That would be North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell.
A consensus four start prospect and the number two player in his class from North Carolina, Howell thew for 13,415 yards and 145 touchdowns at Sun Valley High School. He ranks second in state history in passing yards and was ranked the fourth-best quarterback at the Elite 11 finals.
Howell started as a freshman for the Tar Heels, and in 13 games, threw for 3,641 yards and 38 touchdowns on 61.4 percent completion, while throwing only seven interceptions. His season included a comeback win against Miami, and going toe-to-toe with the Clemson Tigers.
While his numbers dropped slightly in his sophomore campaign (3,586 yards, 30 touchdowns), Howell’s completion percentage jumped up nearly seven percentage points and he finished with over 10 yards per attempt. Howell did lead UNC to the Orange Bowl and was a finalist and semi-finalist for many quarterback awards.
His junior season could be one for the books, and he could hear his name called early in the 2022 NFL Draft.
So how does Howell stack up right now against other 2022 NFL Draft hopefuls? Let’s look at his summer scouting report.
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.
Weaknesses in Howell’s game
While Howell has tremendous skills, there are always areas to improve.
It starts with anticipation. Most of the time, Howell waits for his receivers to get out of their breaks before pulling the trigger, most often with hitch and comeback routes. It hasn’t gotten him into trouble yet, but corners with quick triggers downhill can make plays on those passes if they’re late.
The other thing to (mainly) watch with Howell is how his commitment to high-velocity throws can sometimes lead to accuracy issues. There’s no doubt Howell improved in 2020, but there were still some issues with accuracy. Those issues stemmed from Howell’s velocity that he generates on the majority of his throws. It also comes from pressure, where Howell can’t step into the throw and relies on his arm to make the play.
His accuracy on the run is something else to monitor. It got noticeably better as the 2020 season went on, but he struggled a bit with throws falling short and wide of his target.
Overall, it’s going to be important for Howell to develop more consistently. The flashes are there in droves, but keeping his foot off the pedal at times will help his accuracy and consistency as a passer.
Final Thoughts and 2022 NFL Draft outlook
It’s a positive trend right now for Sam Howell regarding the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s on the right track in terms of improvement, and should continue that trend in 2021. His jump in accuracy and arm talent was evident, and his processing skills looked great last season.
Now, it’s all about adding that consistency. If Howell can maintain good footwork under pressure and on the move, he will become more consistent in those areas. If he remembers to take a little velocity off at times, that will help as well.
Another thing of note with Howell is that he lost the majority of his pass-catchers from last season. Brown, Dazz Newsome, Javonte Williams, and Michael Carter all went on to the NFL, leaving a massive load of targets open. Howell still has Khafre Brown and Beau Corrales, so seeing them step up will ease the transition.
Right now, Howell is considered (in consensus draft circles) as a top three quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft. Taking another step this season and leading the Tar Heels to more success will only boost his resume, and it’s possible he hears his name called early in the spring of 2022.