Quarterback isn’t one of the biggest needs for the Indianapolis Colts. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t draft one this year. If they do draft a quarterback, Will Howard could be the guy.
Howard is coming off an amazing season, leading Ohio State to a national championship. He doesn’t have the potential of a quarterback like Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, or Jalen Milroe. Yet, he could turn out to be a solid NFL signal caller.
Howard is expected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He could go in the fifth or sixth round. If the Colts get him, he could wind up being a steal and a fine investment.
Indianapolis Colts Should Take Ohio State Quarterback Will Howard in the 2025 NFL Draft
His Collegiate Career
While Will Howard is known for his time at Ohio State, he began his college career at Kansas State. He backed up former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Skylar Thompson during his freshman season. He started the final seven games, though, after Thompson went down with an injury. As a sophomore, he backed up Thompson once again and started three of his six games.
Howard was set to back up Adrian Martinez in 2022. Yet, he became the starter when Martinez sustained an injury. Howard ended up playing four seasons at Kansas State. During his tenure at the school, he threw for 5,786 yards and 48 touchdowns. He also rushed for 921 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Howard transferred to Ohio State for his senior year. In 2024, he threw for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns while adding 226 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He was named third-team All-Big Ten.
Howard led the Buckeyes to a victory over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship. He was named Offensive MVP of that game after throwing for 231 yards, rushing for 57 yards, and adding two touchdowns on an 81 percent completion rate. The Buckeyes claimed their ninth national championship. It was their first title since 2014.
Why the Colts Should Draft Will Howard
Colts general manager Chris Ballard said he would add a quarterback to compete with Anthony Richardson. And that’s exactly what he did by signing Daniel Jones this offseason. Richardson and Jones will duke it out for the starting quarterback job. It will be interesting to see who wins. Whoever doesn’t win will be the primary backup, replacing veteran Joe Flacco.
If the Colts draft Will Howard, he can compete with Jason Bean for the No. 3 QB spot. Sam Ehlinger, who served as the No. 3 quarterback last season, is a free agent and it’s unclear whether he’ll re-sign with Indianapolis.
Howard could one day blossom into a starter. You never know. But realistically, he’s expected to be a long-term backup. Howard is known as a true leader. He possesses a strong arm, can fit the ball in tight windows, has a quick release, and is relatively mobile. Plus, he’s highly accurate, which is certainly what you want from a quarterback. He had a 73 percent completion rate last season. It wouldn’t hurt for the Colts to draft Will Howard, who’s considered an intriguing developmental QB.
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