2017 NFL Draft Profile: O.J. Howard
Undersized defensive backs, look away. If you were creating a tight end on EA Sports’ Madden NFL, you’d probably make O.J. Howard. Size, athleticism, hands, blocking ability. If we’re talking about complete prospects, Howard is amongst the most polished I have ever seen.
RAF Big Board Ranking: #11
Combine Results
If the tape suggested Howard had rare athletic traits, the combine put it in black and white. Measuring in at a towering 6’6″, the Alabama star delivered a quick 40-Yard dash for wide receivers and running backs, let alone a tight end.
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 251 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.51 seconds
Bench Press: 22 reps
Vertical Jump: 30 inches
Broad Jump: 121 inches
Three Cone Drill: 6.85 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.16 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: 11.46 seconds
Strengths
Just about everything you want O.J. Howard to do, he can. Starting with his athleticism, let’s just appreciate what he’s bringing to the table with that kind of frame. Tight ends normally present a match-up problem for defenses, as they try to decide whether to sacrifice the speed advantage whilst matching for size as they line up a linebacker or strong-side safety, or sacrifice the size whilst bringing in the speed of a cornerback. At a 4.51 40, Howard will be faster than most of the cornerbacks he encounters at the NFL level, all the while having a 5-6 inch height advantage too. To call the Alabama-native a match-up problem would be the understatement of the year.
His route running is up to the mark too, as he uses an astonishing burst of pace to launch into his patterns, separating with ease. When the ball arrives, his enormous (ten inches) hands gobble the ball up anywhere within his equally enormous (34 inch) wingspan. If you think you can apply a hit to our man Howard, you best not miss. Many a defensive back has seen their pride take a considerable fall after being on the receiving end of an O.J. Howard steamroll.
It’s that toughness that makes Howard so valuable going down the seams. His field awareness is such that he knows when to brace for a hit, and when to take the ball in full stride.
Tracking the ball in the air is another skill that makes Howard lethal in a passing attack, as he uses that frame to position himself as favourably as possible when going up for a jump ball down the field.
In the blocking game, the 2015 National Champion is able to land his hands early and accurately and can use that athleticism to get onto the second level and turn your ten-yard gains into thirty-yard gains.
Weaknesses
Whilst Howard is a capable run blocker, he might need to add some muscle to handle NFL linebackers in the same way he did in college. If an opponent gets in an early push on the three-time SEC champ, he’ll be spending the rest of the play wildly off balance.
Other than that, no more complaints from me. ‘Not the strongest blocker’, is literally this man’s only weakness on the gridiron.
The Verdict
If your team drafts O.J. Howard, strap yourself in for some touchdown action in 2017. He is a defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare, but a thousand times worse. There’s no landing spot I wouldn’t love for a player of this calibre.
Draft Prediction: If O.J. Howard slips out of Round One, I will eat a printed off version of this prospect profile.