A year ago, Sam Howell was expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He totaled 68 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in his first two seasons at North Carolina and was a top quarterback prospect.
But a tumultuous junior season that saw him lose many of his top targets and his offensive line led to a drop in production. And he's dropped way down draft boards.
Howell has not been in the discussions as one of the top quarterbacks ever since his college football season ended. He currently has the fifth-highest odds at +4000 on BetMGM to be the first quarterback taken in the draft. He is +2500 at WynnBet.
Howell is being projected to be picked after the likes of Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder and Matt Corral. He has not been taken in the first round of any noteworthy mock drafts.
In a seven-round mock draft posted by ESPN's Matt Miller on Tuesday, he went 67th overall to the New York Giants. Howell was selected 49th overall to the New Orleans Saints in a recent combined mock draft between Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay.
The highest he has gone in a recent mock draft was 41st overall to the Seattle Seahawks in a mock by CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson.
PointsBet has Howell's over/under posted at 45.5 (-105 over, -125 under). DraftKings also has it at 45.5 with the juice towards the over (-145 over, +110 under). FanDuel is a little more bullish with his over/under at 42.5 (-114 on both sides).
It appears that Howell should fall somewhere in the second round, but where in the second round could be anyone's guess.
