Shedeur Sanders defend Will Howard after the NFL combines performance

Will Howard was one of the quarterbacks who chose to throw an NFL scouting combine over the weekend, and his performance led to mixed reviews and was deemed “inconsistent.”

The Ohio and Kansas products were able to connect with receivers in part of the slow session, but he also missed multiple passes, including deep balls on the field.

After throwing to the combine, Colorado quarterback Chedur Sanders posted to X to protect Howard.

“I don’t understand that Will Howard hates Natty,” Sanders wrote. “It’s hard for everyone to throw something you don’t know about, something different for everyone to go to WR!”

Sanders, along with fellow top quarterback Prospect Come Ward, chooses not to throw a combine and instead throws on his professional day. The combine can cause poor performance as the quarterback throws to receivers that they had not previously connected. That’s why some prospects choose to throw at Pro Day, and receivers they know well through the combine.

After his session, Howard called his own performance “decent.” “I felt decent,” Howard told Stacey Dale on the NFL network. “I feel like I had some things that I could wipe out because I’m my biggest critic. But overall I think I showed that I could spin the ball with the best. And I felt good about it. And I think my footwork was pretty solid. And I’m excited to show Pro Day can spin a little more.”

Howard heads into the NFL draft process coming out of his senior season, completing 73.1% of his passes for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 picks, with the Buckeyes winning the College Football Playoffs National Championship. He will get another opportunity set for Mark 26 on Ohio Pro Day.