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The NFL Combine serves as a critical stage for prospects looking to impress scouts and elevate their draft stock. While some of the most highly touted names, such as Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, opted out of participating to avoid potential missteps, Will Howard took a different approach.
Fresh off a National Championship-winning season, the quarterback seized the opportunity to showcase his skills and prove his worth to NFL teams. However, the event did not unfold in his favor.
Howard's performance in the quarterback drills raised concerns among evaluators. His ball placement was inconsistent, leading to several overthrown and off-target es. T
he mistakes led to immediate criticism from analysts and fans, igniting discussions about his true potential as an NFL quarterback. Some began to question whether his success at Ohio State was a product of playing alongside elite talent rather than his individual abilities.
Shedeur Sanders and Cam Newton defend Howard
As the negativity around Howard's performance gained momentum, Shedeur Sanders stepped in to defend him. The Colorado quarterback, who himself faces intense scrutiny, took to social media to emphasize how difficult it is to throw to unfamiliar receivers in a high-pressure setting like the Combine.
"I don't understand y'all hating on Will Howard, he just won a natty. It's hard to throw to WR's that you don't know, everyone run routes different!" Sanders tweeted.
Sanders wasn't alone in offering . Former NFL MVP Cam Newton also weighed in on the narrative surrounding Howard, making it clear that a poor Combine showing does not define a player's future in the league.
"I think the thing about the combine is this: That's not going to make or break you," Newton said.
Newton emphasized that the media tends to overreact to Combine performances without fully considering the circumstances. He pointed out that some of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history had less-than-stellar showings during the pre-draft process.
"Going to the combine, like bro, you're in a situation where you don't know the skill set, you don't know the tempo, you don't know who you're going to throw to, you don't know how they're going to come out of their routes, you don't know certain things and it's like bro do you blame him?" Newton added.