Journal #33: Commanding Howell

​Another Tar Heel quarterback gets drafted. But, this time, it's not to my Chicago Bears. Instead, it's to one of the last teams I'd ever root for, the Washington Commanders. I'm not a big fan of anybody in the NFC East. I despise the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants are settled in Yankee land, and the Washington Commanders have the worst owner in the history of the NFL. 

Before this year's draft, if you had asked me who my favorite team is from this division, I might have told you the New York Giants because I have no real argument against why I don't like them other than they're from New York. I'll continue to dislike the Cowboys because any team from Texas deserves to be disliked, the Eagles because I'm not over Double Doink, and the Commanders because Dan Snyder sucks and is easy to hate. But here is what I will root for. 

I hope that Howell can learn a lot under Carson Wentz. I won't say that he is a good quarterback, but he is a winning quarterback with a starting record of 44-40-1, a Pro Bowler, and a Bert Bell Award-winning quarterback. He has the experience that Howell can learn from, and hopefully, the relationship between the two is beneficial. 

Howell was drafted in the fifth round, and with being drafted so late, there is no pressure on him to be some Pro Bowl Bound or Super Bowl Winning quarterback by the time his rookie contract expires. Instead, sitting on the bench for a few years gives him plenty of time to develop under coach Ron Rivera and become an efficient quarterback. 

Anybody that has seen Howell play knows what I'm talking about when I say this, but he was born to be a quarterback. From what I saw at UNC games, UNC's lack of success cannot be put on Howell. When he drops back in the pocket, he is calm, collected, and doesn't let the pressure get to him. He can throw dimes and get the ball where it needs to be. It doesn't matter how far downfield a receiver is. Trust me when I say this, Howell was a steal for the Commanders and will be a great quarterback in years to come. 

Speaking of Ron Rivera, there are not many coaches I trust more with a rookie quarterback. In 2011, Rivera joined the Carolina Panthers as their Head Coach and was given the eventual MVP, Cam Newton. I don't have to say much about the 2015 Carolina Panthers and how had they won the Super Bowl, they could be debated as the best team of all time, but that was done partially because Rivera developed his team into what it was. 

Howell will be Rivera's second rookie quarterback under his belt for more than one season, so I'm excited to see what he did if Cam Newton is any indication of what's to come. So, behind a quarterback with a stint of success and a few MVP votes and a Head Coach with an MVP Quarterback and a Super Bowl visit under his belt, I expect Howell to be a prominent quarterback in the NFL by the time his second contract rolls around.