ScoutIndex

HOU HOU

O.J. Howard

TE

O.J. Howard came into the league as a 1st-round selection (19th overall) in 2017, drafted out of Alabama. He last played in 2022 with HOU, a career spanning 6 NFL seasons. His 56.8 ScoutIndex Rating last season ranked in the 78th percentile among TEs — solidly above average. Deep Threat is his calling card, grading in the 99th percentile among his peers. Across 6 NFL seasons, he has totaled 129 catches for 1,882 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Size

6'6", 251#

College

Alabama

Draft

Rd 1, 19th overall (2017)

Seasons

2017–2022

2018 ScoutIndex Rating · TE

Methodology
83.4

98th percentile among TEs

10 games · 48 targets

Role×0.14+0.48
Hands×0.1+3.15
Volume×0.12+0.69
Total EPA×0.22+1.52
EPA/target×0.3+1.51
Yards/target×0.12+3.42

2018 attribute card

click a row to see the formula
AthleticismReceivingRoleImpact

group averages

Athleticism

Speed87▶

Percentile of 40-yard dash time among TEs at the NFL Combine (faster = higher), 2000–present.

Burst43▶

Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine TEs.

Agility96▶

Percentile of 3-cone + short shuttle among combine TEs (faster = higher).

Size74▶

Height/weight z-score vs. the TE cohort (from official bio, not combine-dependent).

Receiving

Hands76▶

Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.

Deep Threat99▶

Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.

YAC Ability88▶

Yards after catch ÷ reception.

Role

Target Share80▶

Share of the team's targets while on the field, target-weighted across the season.

Air-Yards Share87▶

Share of the team's total air yards, target-weighted across the season.

Impact

Efficiency94▶

Receiving EPA ÷ target — the Rating's largest component.

Volume83▶

Total targets this season.

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2022HOU36.811101452
2021TB49.510141351
2020TB51.34111462
2019TB56.814344591
2018TB83.410345655
2017TB77.513264326

Career profile

Across 6 NFL seasons on file, O.J. Howard has played in 62 regular-season games, playing for 2 teams: TB (2017–2021), HOU (2022).

As a receiver he has caught 129 passes for 1,882 yards and 17 touchdowns. His most productive receiving season was 2018 with TB: 565 yards and 5 touchdowns in 10 games.

By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2018: a 83.4, in the 98th percentile among TEs that year.

Career highs (regular season)

2018 splits

regular season
SplitGRecRec ydsRec TD
Home4
15
3.8/g
250
63/g
1
Away6
19
3.2/g
315
53/g
4
In division3
10
3.3/g
169
56/g
3
Out of division7
24
3.4/g
396
57/g
2
In wins3
10
3.3/g
217
72/g
1
In losses7
24
3.4/g
348
50/g
4
On grass6
19
3.2/g
303
51/g
3
On turf4
15
3.8/g
262
66/g
2
Indoors1
2
2.0/g
54
54/g
0
Outdoors9
32
3.6/g
511
57/g
5

2018 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1NO2 rec, 54 yds, 0 TD74.6
Week 2PHI3 rec, 96 yds, 1 TD67.4
Week 3PIT6 rec, 72 yds, 0 TD70.2
Week 4CHI—28.9
Week 6ATL4 rec, 62 yds, 1 TD83.6
Week 7CLE5 rec, 67 yds, 0 TD50.5
Week 8CIN4 rec, 68 yds, 1 TD82.1
Week 9CAR4 rec, 53 yds, 2 TD79.1
Week 10WAS1 rec, 15 yds, 0 TD12
Week 11NYG5 rec, 78 yds, 0 TD68.8

O.J. Howard — common questions

What position does O.J. Howard play?
O.J. Howard is listed as a TE.
Which teams has O.J. Howard played for?
In the seasons on file (1999 onward), O.J. Howard has played for TB (2017–2021), HOU (2022).
Where did O.J. Howard go to college?
O.J. Howard played college football at Alabama.
When was O.J. Howard drafted?
O.J. Howard was selected in round 1, 19th overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft.
How many touchdowns has O.J. Howard scored?
O.J. Howard has 17 touchdowns in the regular-season games on file (17 receiving).
What is O.J. Howard's ScoutIndex Rating?
O.J. Howard rated 36.8 for 2022, the 15th percentile among TEs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.

Related players

Top teammates, last season on file

Drafted in round 1, 2017

Also from Alabama