pittpnthrs
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Peyton Manning and Matt Stafford are 2 guys who I can think of off the top of my head who threw more interceptions than TDs in their first year in the league, both went on to win a superbowl.
Howell is a different case in that he effectively redshirted a year before starting, but those 2 were first overall picks compared to Howell's 5th round, so you'd have expected them to be more ready (Manning actually played 4 years in college to Stafford/Howell's 3).
Not saying by any means that indicates Howell is the next coming of Peyton Manning of course, but like both of those guys he was a guy playing in a dumpster team with little offensive talent around him. I don't think it's fair to rule him out. That said I don't expect to see much of him while Geno is here who I think still has what it takes to take us all the way - providing his supporting cast stays healthy (Geno last season was night and day with Cross/Lucas playing).
Manning and Stafford were 1st round talent. Coaches and evaluators knew what they had in those two. Howell is more akin to Jameis Winston than Manning or Stafford.