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. Agility is his calling card, grading in the 97th 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

2019 ScoutIndex Rating · TE

Methodology
56.8

78th percentile among TEs

14 games · 53 targets

Role×0.14+0.31
Hands×0.1+0.61
Volume×0.12+0.80
Total EPA×0.22+0.25
EPA/target×0.3-0.17
Yards/target×0.12+1.18

2019 attribute card

click a row to see the formula
AthleticismReceivingRoleImpact

group averages

Athleticism

Speed88▶

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

Burst40▶

Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine TEs.

Agility97▶

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

Size78▶

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

Receiving

Hands29▶

Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.

Deep Threat96▶

Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.

YAC Ability35▶

Yards after catch ÷ reception.

Role

Target Share73▶

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

Air-Yards Share75▶

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

Impact

Efficiency38▶

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

Volume81▶

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)

2019 splits

regular season
SplitGRecRec ydsRec TD
Home8
20
2.5/g
299
37/g
1
Away6
14
2.3/g
160
27/g
0
In division6
4
0.7/g
55
9/g
0
Out of division8
30
3.8/g
404
51/g
1
In wins7
21
3.0/g
270
39/g
1
In losses7
13
1.9/g
189
27/g
0
On grass11
28
2.5/g
393
36/g
1
On turf3
6
2.0/g
66
22/g
0
Indoors3
6
2.0/g
66
22/g
0
Outdoors11
28
2.5/g
393
36/g
1

2019 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1SF4 rec, 32 yds, 0 TD24.9
Week 2CAR—43.2
Week 3NYG3 rec, 66 yds, 0 TD71.2
Week 4LAR3 rec, 33 yds, 0 TD62.2
Week 5NO1 rec, 10 yds, 0 TD47.7
Week 6CAR2 rec, 35 yds, 0 TD51.4
Week 10ARI4 rec, 47 yds, 1 TD65.7
Week 11NO—22.9
Week 12ATL1 rec, 10 yds, 0 TD50.9
Week 13JAX5 rec, 61 yds, 0 TD56.7
Week 14IND4 rec, 73 yds, 0 TD70.1
Week 15DET4 rec, 46 yds, 0 TD57.8
Week 16HOU3 rec, 46 yds, 0 TD47.5
Week 17ATL—42.7

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