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

2021 ScoutIndex Rating · TE

Methodology
49.5

60th percentile among TEs

10 games · 21 targets

Role×0.14-0.36
Hands×0.1+1.06
Volume×0.12-0.24
Total EPA×0.22-0.13
EPA/target×0.3+0.06
Yards/target×0.12-0.40

2021 attribute card

click a row to see the formula
AthleticismReceivingRoleImpact

group averages

Athleticism

Speed91▶

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

Burst32▶

Percentile of vertical jump + broad jump among combine TEs.

Agility97▶

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

Size77▶

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

Receiving

Hands39▶

Catch rate — receptions ÷ targets.

Deep Threat54▶

Average depth of target — receiving air yards ÷ targets.

YAC Ability79▶

Yards after catch ÷ reception.

Role

Target Share45▶

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

Air-Yards Share37▶

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

Impact

Efficiency51▶

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

Volume56▶

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)

2021 splits

regular season
SplitGRecRec ydsRec TD
Home5
5
1.0/g
59
12/g
0
Away5
9
1.8/g
76
15/g
1
In division3
3
1.0/g
37
12/g
0
Out of division7
11
1.6/g
98
14/g
1
In wins6
11
1.8/g
108
18/g
1
In losses4
3
0.8/g
27
7/g
0
On grass7
11
1.6/g
108
15/g
1
On turf3
3
1.0/g
27
9/g
0
Indoors2
3
1.5/g
27
14/g
0
Outdoors8
11
1.4/g
108
14/g
1

2021 game log

WkOppLineScore
PostseasonPHI1 rec, 3 yds, 0 TD—
PostseasonLAR1 rec, 7 yds, 0 TD—
Week 2ATL1 rec, 21 yds, 0 TD56
Week 3LAR1 rec, 11 yds, 0 TD49.4
Week 4NE—35.2
Week 5MIA2 rec, 19 yds, 0 TD52.8
Week 6PHI6 rec, 49 yds, 1 TD57.6
Week 7CHI1 rec, 9 yds, 0 TD39.6
Week 8NO2 rec, 16 yds, 0 TD49.8
Week 10WAS—43.4
Week 11NYG1 rec, 10 yds, 0 TD49.6
Week 15NO—41

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