2022 NFL Draft: QBs soaring and sliding after week one

2. Sam Howell, North Carolina

Stock: DOWN

Sam Howell didn’t lose a bunch of guys to the NFL just last year, did he?

Howell has been probably the heaviest favorite this past offseason to be the number one overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Understandable.

Howell’s body type and playing style is reminiscent somewhat of Baker Mayfield when he was at Oklahoma, and he has been extremely productive over his first two seasons at North Carolina.

As productive as Howell was in his first two seasons as a Tar Heel, he was given a significant wake-up call against Virginia Tech in the Tar Heels’ season opener.

Howell completed just over 53 percent of his passes, he was sacked six times, and he threw three interceptions.

It was hard, at times, to blame Howell for trying to play a bit of “hero ball” but at the same time, expectations for him as a potential number one overall pick were to come out and play some dominant ball and be the tide that raises all boats.

He didn’t do it.

In fact, he did quite the opposite.

This was a brutal outing for Howell and the pressure from Virginia Tech’s defense really had him rattled early.

It’s just one game, but it was obvious that Howell didn’t have his best stuff at all.