Will Howard and Dillon Gabriel Fail to Change Draft Fate as $1.8M SEC QB Becomes Surprise NFL Combine Winner

The jump from college football to the NFL is brutal. Just ask Will Howard. Less than 2 months ago, he was on top of the world, leading OSU to its first national title since 2014. But fast forward to the NFL Combine, and the momentum came to a screeching halt. Under the bright lights of Lucas Oil Stadium, Howard struggled to impress. And his performance fell flat, leaving scouts with more questions than answers. And just like that, he failed to change his draft fate.

In fact, his performance was so underwhelming that CBS Sports’ draft insider Chris Trapasso didn’t hold back, saying, “Howard was one of the biggest quarterbacks among this year’s group – unquestionably a positive. While he deserves respect for testing, Howard had the lowest vertical and broad of the tiny collection of quarterbacks.” The player had a vertical of 31.5″ and broad jump of 9’4″ in the Combine results. Those numbers don’t paint a pretty picture.

“Beyond that, he was noticeably inaccurate at all levels of the field during the throwing session, missing high and behind his targets. It was ugly,” said Trapasso. To be honest, it’s a brutal assessment, but in the NFL, every throw counts, and for Howard, his stock just took a major hit.

As of now, Will Howard sits at No. 51 overall, according to Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department. But first-round buzz? Nowhere to be found. And the same goes for Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. As a polished college passer with stops at 3 different programs, Gabriel’s talent is undeniable, but size matters in the NFL. So, ESPN’s Mass Miller called him “a bit undersized.” And due to that size issue, his Combine showing didn’t help. After a shaky workout on Saturday, Gabriel’s draft stock took a hit at the worst possible time.

Chris Trapasso slapped him with a C- grade, pointing out he was the smallest quarterback there. And his lack of arm strength? Hard to ignore. Even Mass Miller wasn’t impressed, saying, “I thought of the quarterbacks in his group, he had the poorest showing when it comes to these touch timing throws the NFL scouts want to see you make.”

Safe to say, for Gabriel, the road to the NFL just got a little tougher.

However, Dillon Gabriel led Oregon to a perfect 13-0 season, a B1G title, and the No. 1 seed in the CFP. But when it mattered at the Combine, he fell flat. And his performance knocked him out of the first-round conversation for the 2025 NFL Draft. While Howard and Gabriel failed to boost their stock, one QB from the SEC, worth $1.8M, stole the show and became the Combine’s biggest surprise.

He is none other than Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart. Stepping into the NFL Combine, he carried his signature confidence, ready to let it fly. Dart’s deep-ball laser was on full display, backed by a strong frame and sharp accuracy on shorter routes. And CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso took notice, grading him ‘A-‘ and naming him one of the Combine’s biggest winners.

Although Dart didn’t run the 40, his athleticism was impossible to miss. And his strong frame, sharp mechanics, and smooth delivery turned heads. As of now, with a standout pro day in Oxford, he could sneak into the first round. Even in the worst-case scenario, teams needing a quarterback will probably target this strong and experienced SEC player in the second round.

While Jaxson Dart is climbing the draft boards, Shedeur Sanders is stepping up to defend Will Howard.

Shedeur Sanders endorses Will Howard

After leading Ohio State to a national title, Will Howard had a shaky outing on Saturday. His performance was up and down—some overthrows, some missed targets. And the incompletions stole the headlines, but it wasn’t all bad. Well, Howard still delivered a few impressive throws, showing flashes of the talent that got him here.

Here, CU’s Shedeur Sanders came to Howard’s defense. Despite skipping the Combine himself, Sanders had a strong message for the critics. “I don’t understand y’all hating on @whoward_ he just won a natty. It’s hard to throw to WR’s that you don’t know, everyone run routes different!” he posted on X.

So, Sanders made it clear—Howard deserves more respect!

Because Howard’s dedication is undeniable. Guess what? Reports surfaced that he was throwing in a hotel parking lot before the Combine, putting in extra work. That’s the kind of grind that doesn’t go unnoticed. So, Sanders’ message wasn’t just support—it was respect. Shedeur highlighted the challenge of throwing to unfamiliar receivers, a common hurdle at the Combine. Safe to say that Howard may have struggled, but his work ethic speaks louder than any critique.

Well, Howard made the most of his lone season at Ohio State. He threw for 4,010 yards and 35 TDs—career highs across the board. And in the national championship, he delivered when it mattered, passing for 231 yards and two scores in a 34-23 win over Notre Dame. Following that, in January, Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling ranked him as the 9th-best QB in the class.

But now, after an up-and-down Combine, all eyes are on how his draft stock shifts.