Sam Howell
Sam Howell  QB  North Carolina | NFL Draft 2022 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Sam Howell
Height
6-1
Weight
221
College
North Carolina
Position
QB
Class
Junior
Home town
Indian Trail, NC
86.1/100
Player Rating
4
PositionRank (QB)
4.87
FortyYD Time
QB Rating
103.1
YDS
3056
Comp %
62.5
TDS
24
INTs
9
Rush AVG
4.5

Sam Howell QB North Carolina | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Sam Howell QB North Carolina
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer
Last Updated: 12/30/2021
Draft Year: 2022
40 time: 4.87 seconds (40%*)
Age: 24.2 DOB: 09/16/2000
Measurables:
Height: 6-1 (17%*) Weight: 221 (47%*)
Hands: 9 1/8 (27%*) Arm: 31 3/8 (33%*) Span: 75 4/8 (42%*)
Forty: 4.87 (O) (40%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
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NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results
PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer
Last Updated: 12/30/2021
Draft Year: 2022
40 time: 4.87 seconds (40%*)
Age: 24.2 DOB: 09/16/2000
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-1 (17%*) Weight: 221 (47%*)
Hands: 9 1/8 (27%*) Arm: 31 3/8 (33%*)
Span: 75 4/8 (42%*)
Forty: 4.87 (O) (40%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results
Overall Rating: 86.1 / 100
Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced
Defense Rating:
76%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Release Speed:
78%
Short Passing:
80%
Medium Passing:
92%
Long Passing:
91%
Rush/Scramble:
90%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 2nd - Late
Overall Rank: #55 Position rank: #4
College Games: 37 College Snaps: 2611
Grade: 4 ESPN  Stars 4 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 84/100
College Combine Results
OVR Rank: #61 Pos Rank: #7 State Rank: #3
College Combine Results
Grade: 247 Sports 4  Stars 247 Sports 95 Stars 247 RATING: 95/100
Grade: 4 Stars 4 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
Washington Commanders Drafted: ROUND: 5 - Pick Number: 144 (WSH)
Draft Profile: Bio
Howell was a four-star rated quarterback by 247 Sports, ranked as the No. 3 dual-threat in the 2019 class and a top-100 player nationally.
North Carolina's Sam Howell has been a starter since Day 1 of his Tar Heel career, earning ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2019 and following that up with an even more impressive campaign in 2020. His 68 touchdown passes are a conference record for a QB through his sophomore season and received second-team All-ACC honoree and was a Manning Award finalist.

The 2021 season has been a down one for Howell where his stats have dropped across the board - whether he declares for the draft is up in the air currently.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Good zip and ball placement on the quick slant. Good touch down the seam and on post-corner, flag routes to attack the defense vertically and horizontally.
  • Very confident passer and shows good accuracy and feel when in rhythm. Showed better ball placement from past years and throws very catchable passes.
  • Sticks throws into tight windows over the middle, throwing to spot on slant or between zone defenders before the receiver is open.
  • Good accuracy overall, including excellent accuracy on short timing routes to backs and receivers, placing the ball slightly in front to lead receivers to potential yardage after the catch.
  • Athletic quarterback who is a threat to leave the pocket and gain positive yardage at any time. Possesses very good vision balance, elusiveness and deceptive speed and power as a runner.
  • Footwork - Howell has some of the best footwork I've seen from a college QB. His ability to create a base for himself is amazing. I have barely seen any heel clicks or crossing feet in his drop back. Also he escapes the pocket very well and can create space for himself
  • Howell makes easy throws look easy underneath and has a pretty deep ball with lots of air underneath it.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Has struggled with his decision-making and needs to improve his pre-snap recognition skills to read defenses and see blitzes. Doesn't decipher information as quickly as you would like, but does see the entire field and understands coverage.
  • Needs to improve his touch at all levels and know when to gun it and when to take something off his throws. Accuracy is solid, but far from great with streaky ball placement downfield as he tries to thread the needle too much.
  • Sails throws to either sideline; receivers make him look good with acrobatic catches. Back-foot throws are not accurate. Sometimes trusts his arm too much, trying to stick passes late in the play or when off-balance.
  • Marginal height, which will prove more of a detriment in an offense that asks him to drop back from center more often.
Scouting Report: Summary
Howell was an obvious first-rounder at the end of 2020 but 2021 has had a major impact on his draft stock where he hasn't looked even remotely as impressive. It's for NFL teams to decide whether it was the loss of Howell's two backs- Michael Carter (1,512 scrimmage yards, 11 touchdowns) and Javonte Williams (1,445 scrimmage yards, 22 touchdowns) and top wideouts have been responsible for the drop-off or it's something more innate.

We think taking Howell in the first round would be a major reach given his recent performances and consider him as a third-round prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft- with the potential to become an NFL starter.

Sam Howell percentiles vs other Quarterbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)

How other scouting services rate Sam Howell (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
54.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
5.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.