The Las Vegas Raiders have shown strong faith in Chip Kelly by making him the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL. However, his success will largely depend on finding a quarterback who fits his system. Since securing a top prospect early in the draft may be difficult, the Raiders could explore later rounds for a viable option.
One potential fit is Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, who just had his best collegiate season under Kelly’s play-calling. Though Howard is already 24, he has demonstrated the ability to operate Kelly’s offense effectively. According to Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders might select Howard with the No. 71 overall pick in the third round.
“We know, we know. It’s way too obvious to pair Howard with Kelly, his offensive coordinator at Ohio State and the new play caller in Las Vegas, but the 6-4, 235-pound Howard has enough upside to warrant the pick,” Reed and Tafur wrote. “He completed 73.1 percent of his passes for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions last season while running for 226 yards and seven touchdowns. Howard has good footwork with sufficient arm strength and accuracy.
He can do all the cool RPO stuff and throws well on the run, and his toughness and national-title-level leadership make him worth a top-75 pick.”
While Howard may not develop into a long-term franchise quarterback, he could still provide an upgrade over the Raiders’ current options. A third-round selection carries minimal risk, making him a logical choice for the team.
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