“I thought he had a chance to be a first-round player.”
That was former Washington General Manager Scot McCloughan, a guest on the Kevin Sheehan Podcast Friday, commenting on current Commanders quarterback Sam Howell.
Pointing to Howell’s competitiveness and arm strength, McCloughan thought Howell could be the first quarterback drafted following the 2020 season.
However, the 2021 season for Howell did not go as well, as he lost some NFL-level teammates at North Carolina. McCloughan pointed to how Howell so many times took to running because his offensive line was not as strong. But he liked Howell’s athletic ability and made the comparison of Baker Mayfield as well.
“He has talent, and I think he showed it against the Cowboys late in the season last year. He showed up, and that is pressure, even if it is not a playoff game. For him to step in and do what he did, shows some moxie. I think that was a good starting point.”
The 2022 draft was not a strong one for quarterbacks, as only Kenny Pickett went in the first round (20th overall). Desmond Ridder (74th), Malik Willis (86th), Matt Corral (94th), Bailey Zappe (137th) followed before Howell’s name was selected at 144th, the first selection of the fifth round.
So why did Howell drop three or four rounds in the draft in the next year? “Something has to come out through the process that is negative about him,” insisted McCloughan. “Something had to have happened after the season ended through the combine, through the Pro Days, through the visits, something happened that was knocking him down.”
“But the kids need to understand; it is not so much where you are drafted. It’s what you do once you get there.”
