But he should have been the 1st QB off the board. It's crazy 2 years leading up to the draft, he's being talked about as the number 1 pick, then he has a less good season, not even a bad season, and suddenly he's falling out of the top 4 rounds.
I’m not a big college guy, but I do recall Howell being talked about as the potential #1
overall pick. Did he have that bad of a season to drop that much in the draft?
Scouts/GMs often whiff, but has to be some concern why all teams passed 4+ times on him. Going forward, he’s going to have to hit early, because with little draft capital invested in him, he can be easily replaced.
The entire offense went into a funk after losing Javonte Williams, Michael Carter, Dyami Brown, and Dazz Newsome to the Draft. Sammy just had a bad year after lighting up the ACC for the first 2 years.
Yup. I wouldn't even call it 'bad", it was just less good than his previous 2 years. He actually did a really good job with al the problems they were having, he still was productive. Just compared to the previous two seasons, it scared a lot of people obviously.
If we go by any normal year, I think all of Ridder, Howell, Pickett and Willis would have been 1st round picks. And maybe Corral. But all those guys are MILES better than the regular level of QB taken in these rounds like Mond, Book, Ryan Finley, Eason, Texans got lucky with Mills, etc... It's not even close. And Howell puts them all to shame. Yea for sure.
They said things about Howell falling about decision making and it having something to do with his meeting with teams, but I still couldn't get a clear reason, at least not one that made sense. I think the 2022 draft was a reaction to all the failed, 1st/2nd round QBs over the past like 10 years or so. 2020 class actually mostly worked out well thus far. But other years, no as much. Guys lauded as the next best, and sure things, or just worth a 1st round pick, Dwayne Haskins, Baker Mayfield, Darnold, Rosen, Z. Wilson; Wentz. Jordan Love (ok technically not a bust yet I guess), Trubisky (Obviously not worth 2nd overall pick taken before DWatson AND Mahomes), Kizer, Paxton Lynch, Christian Hackenberg etc... So 2022 seemed like some sort of OVERcorrection.
I'm very curious to see how teams react to last years draft, this year. Stroud and Young will go early, but the rest, I'm not sure. All though I could definitely see teams reaching for Richardson, Levis and McKee. And then someone's going to get a steal drafting Hooker late, who will prob fall due to his injury.
In the end though, I think both Washington and Atlanta got HUGE steals with Howell and Ridder. And now they won't have to invest in a QB in this draft class which both teams likely would have and really its like getting a free 1st round pick. Which is good because I think Commanders/Hawks avoided that really have a bad feeling about Young, like a Baker Mayfield feeling. The only 2 QBs in this upcoming class I'd feel comfortable with are Stround and Levi, and then I think a couple of guys who will go later like Hooker and McKee who could have real good value if they aren't reached on. I know i"m in the minority on that though and people absolutely love Young. And the talent is there sure. But he's not only short, he's also very slight, and slight and short QB's aren't so often effective. QB's at 5'11 are usually at least strong and dense, like Kyler, Wilson, otherwise there's a good chance he won't last very long. And Richardson forget it. Where Washington picks, they prob would have ended up with Richardson or Levis, and man I think they avoided a bullet there with Richardson at least. Plus I like Howell better than Levis anyway.