Howard not surprised Tampa Bay picked him

PRATTVILLE –  O.J. Howard had to wait a little longer than expected Thursday, but he still got the call on Day 1.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected the former University of Alabama tight end with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.

"They were the first team I visited," Howard said. "Basically, the OC (offensive coordinator Todd Monken), he was like 'we'll take you if you're there. Hopefully you'll be there that long.' It worked out that way. Like he said on the phone, 'We talked about it, you were there so we took you.' "

ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay had the New York Jets picking Howard with the sixth overall pick. Howard was instead taken 19th overall.

More: 'Dream come true': O.J. Howard headed to Tampa Bay

"O.J. Howard was one of best five to eight players in this draft and Tampa Bay gets him at 19," Kiper said.

Howard's teammate and roommate, Derrick Henry, was predicting that Howard would be a "top five" pick at Howard's draft party at the Marriott in Prattville. Ten picks into the draft later that night, Henry went up to his close friend and asked if he was alright.

"Yeah," Howard said and gave him a nod.

A few picks later, Howard got the call from Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter. Howard is expected to fly out Friday morning to Tampa.

"Man, just felt emotions, raw emotions," said Howard, who after talking with his agent felt he'd go between the sixth and 20th pick in the draft. "It's something you dream of as a kid and to finally see the phone ring, it's very exciting.

Howard finished his senior season with 45 catches for 595 yards and only three touchdowns, but was underutilized at Alabama. He played with six different starting quarterbacks in his four years in college with the final one being true freshman Jalen Hurts.

More: Family major part of O.J. Howard's journey to NFL draft

Now in the NFL, Howard will be teamed up with All-Pro Jameis Winston and another big, fast receiving target in Mike Williams.

"Now you add a guy like O.J. Howard," Kiper said. "He'll help out your running game. You look at a guy like O.J. Howard, you look for him to sustain (blocks) a little bit better, but I like the blocking because we don't see that out of many collegiate tight ends these days. He had two or fewer receptions in seven of 12 regular-season games. Don't blame that on O.J. Howard. Blame it on the coordinator."

Howard was the third Alabama player picked in the first round of the draft. Defensive end Jonathan Allen went to the Baltimore Ravens 16th overall and Jonathan Allen followed 17th overall to Washington.

Four Alabama players were picked Thursday with Reuben Foster being the last as San Francisco selected him 31st overall..

More: Four Alabama players drafted in 1st round of NFL draft

Allen was present in Philadelphia for the draft while Howard stayed home and a draft party at the Marriott in Prattville. Around 200 people attended the event.

"We're so blessed to be in this moment," said Howard's mom, Lamesa Parker-Howard.

Howard’s performance at the combine greatly elevated his draft stock that had been rising from his effort during Senior Bowl week. The 6-foot, 6-inch, 251-pound tight end posted the second-fastest 40-yard dash time of any tight end at 4.51 seconds.

The Autauga Academy graduate also bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times and posted the fastest time of any tight end on the 3-cone (6.85 seconds), 20-yard shuttle (4.16) and 60-yard shuttle (11.46).

Then after standout follow-up effort at Alabama’s pro day, Howard was being mentioned in the same breath as Texas A&M rush end Myles Garrett, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and some of the other top prospects.

That wasn’t the case during his senior season. So close to the midway point of the season, that coordinator Kiper criticized, 'former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin' assured Howard of his NFL future.

“I brought him in just to tell him, ‘Hey, you’re still going to get drafted really high no matter how many catches you have because they’re watching the film,’” Kiffin said.

“‘They see you running routes. If the quarterback misses you, he misses you. If you’re double covered, you’re double covered. You’re going to kill the combine and be a really high draft pick.’”

Howard didn't go as high as projected, but still got the call on Day 1.