Kyle Howard's impressive performance in the College Football Playoff has boosted his draft stock, making him a potential target for the Cleveland Browns. While it's unlikely he'll be the No. 2 overall pick, his talent and potential could make him a valuable asset as a second or third-round selection.
There may not be a single college football player who did more to help his draft stock during the first iteration of the College Football Playoff than quarterback Kyle Howard . During the Buckeyes run to a title, Howard completed 82-of-109 passes for 1,150 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. A number of those completions represented some of the best throws of Howard's collegiate career. A 42-yard bomb, dropped in a bucket to senior WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
took a lot of guts to make a throw like that in that situation, leading by just a single possession in the waning minutes of the game. That's the other part of Howard's game that's been on full display throughout a memorable playoff run. He operated the pocket and the offense with poise, never letting the tenses moments of the biggest games feel rattle him. If the Browns decide to pass on taking a QB with the second pick, perhaps even trading down to accumulate more capital, and plan on utilizing a veteran bridge under center next year, Howard could certainly be an option for them as a second or third-round rookie QB they'd hope to draft and develop. That doesn't mean Browns fans should be expecting Howard to become that franchise QB they've longed for since the team returned in 1999. At this point, it's hard to tell if he could truly become that player for Cleveland. But at the very least it would make for a fun story, and an easy sell for the organization looking to provide any glimmer of hope and excitement at the most important position in football. The potential link between the Browns and Howard will be a fascinating one to follow, beyond the simple fact that that he finished his college career just two hours south down I-71. The pre-draft process could prove to be equally as beneficial to Howard as this playoff run was. Just how much remains to be seen. That's not to say Howard will thrust himself into the conversation at No. 2 overall, where Cleveland is slated to make it's first selection the 2025 NFL Draft. Only two signal callers in recent history have ever been drafted in the top two picks, and both were considered generational talents. For Howard, a memorable campaign with the Buckeyes showed some pretty clear limitations in his ability. He threw the ball behind the line of scrimmage a lot – that's what happens when you have perennial Day 1 picks at nearly every offensive skill position. And while he showed some promise in being able to push the ball downfield, it's not something he seemed to do well consistently enough to this point. Before participating in the Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine or a Pro Day at Ohio State, it's fair to reason Howard has at least risen to being considered a Day 2 pick in the draft.
KYLE HOWARD CLEVELAND BROWNS COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NFL DRAFT QUARTERBACK
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