Will Howard is not the future, and the Steelers should look around // Conor Hutchison, Sports Editor
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback room is in rough shape, but not in the way that the NFLPA’s report card gave the Steelers’ locker room quality a D. Rather, it’s in the way that Mason Rudolph is listed on the Steelers’ depth chart as the starting quarterback. As a lifelong fan of the black and gold, I’d like to thank Rudolph for his five seasons with the Steelers as an annual backup, but I don’t think his performance has earned him a promotion as the week-one starter.
There is always the chance the Steelers will re-sign Aaron Rodgers to another contract, but the chances of the mercurial Rodgers deciding before the NFL Draft seem slim. That leaves second-year quarterback Will Howard as the likely choice for Pittsburgh.
Often, quarterbacks selected in the first or even second round get a chance to show their stuff, even without showing it in training camp or the preseason. But as a sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Howard was given no “right” to start — he’ll have to prove to the Steelers he should get the week-one start instead of anyone else.
I’m not sold on Howard’s capability. If he isn’t good enough to start this season, then the Steelers need to select a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft
Why not Howard? He’s billed as a winner. He brought Ohio State its first College Football National Championship since 2014. Standing at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, he’s built like many of the successful quarterbacks of the past. In his one year with the Buckeyes, he led the Big Ten in completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns.
The catch is that Howard was passing to three future NFL wide receivers — Emeka Egbuka, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carnell Tate, due to be selected in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft and Jeremiah Smith, one of the greatest receiver prospects of all time. In the backfield, Howard was flanked by running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, who were both selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Two of his offensive linemen were drafted in the first round — the first for two Buckeyes since 1975.
It’s no surprise that after four seasons with Kansas State, Howard’s best season by far came with an immense amount of talent around him. At Kansas State, Howard’s best completion percentage was 61.3. At Ohio State, it jumped to 73.0.
Scouts worry about Howard’s arm talent. It isn’t the strongest, so throwing on the move or without his feet properly planted results in inaccuracy. The lack of arm strength reveals itself most when Howard attempts throws to the middle of the field, as the window to complete a pass is much smaller. In line with Howard often needing to operate in a perfect situation, he would often predetermine throws. If he saw Smith, Tate or Egbuka with a favorable matchup, the play call would decide that’s where the ball was going before Howard even took the snap, reducing the processing work he had to do during the play.
Maybe with one season sitting behind Rodgers, known for his arm strength and processing ability, Howard has improved. But with five seasons of college football under his belt, some of the mystery of Howard’s ability is gone. There is a reason he was selected in the sixth round.
If I were Steelers GM Omar Khan, I’d select a quarterback in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft — specifically, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar at pick No. 76. Defending that is a battle for another day.
Will Howard is the answer to all the Steelers’ issues // Isla Abrams, Staff Writer
As Pittsburghers count down the days until the NFL Draft, the focus has been on what the Steelers don’t have at quarterback. But in reality, the answer might already be right in front of them — Will Howard.
The Steelers already tried rushing a quarterback with Kenny Pickett, and it didn’t work. He was thrown into a starting role without the development most successful quarterbacks get or any help in building the team around him. He never truly had the chance to grow into the position.
Instead of learning from that and drafting another quarterback right away, the Steelers should actually apply the lesson they learned just four seasons ago. Howard has already spent a year learning behind Aaron Rodgers, one of the smartest and most efficient quarterbacks in NFL history. Rodgers has also been around coaching tied to Mike McCarthy, the new Steelers head coach, who is known for developing quarterbacks at a high level.
That’s where McCarthy really matters. McCarthy has built his reputation on developing quarterbacks, and the best example is Rodgers. When Rodgers entered the league, he didn’t start right away. He spent years learning the system, refining his mechanics and developing his ability to read defenses.
Under McCarthy, he became one of the most efficient quarterbacks in NFL history, winning multiple MVPs and a Super Bowl. McCarthy’s system emphasizes timing and protecting the football rather than forcing plays, which is exactly what the Steelers’ offense is built on. That kind of development doesn’t happen by throwing a quarterback into the fire — it comes from structure and patience, which is exactly what Howard has had.
A lot of successful quarterbacks didn’t start right away. Rodgers sat. Patrick Mahomes sat. Carson Palmer sat. Drew Brees sat early in his career, too. Sitting for a year is part of the process.
People point to Howard’s success at Ohio State and say it was because of the talent around him, but that misses the point. The NFL isn’t about doing everything yourself — it’s about running the system and not turning the ball over.
Howard’s production also shows more than just a good situation. At Ohio State, he led the Big Ten in completion percentage, passing yards, and passing touchdowns, finishing with a 73% completion rate after never breaking 62% at Kansas State. That kind of jump doesn’t just come from talent around you — of course, it helps — but it shows growth and the ability to execute at a high level. More importantly, it reflects what translates to the NFL, which is efficiency and consistency.
That’s exactly what the Steelers need.
Under Mike Tomlin, the formula has always been to protect the football, stay on schedule and let the defense handle the rest. The fastest way to lose a job in Pittsburgh isn’t a lack of talent, it’s making mistakes.
Howard fits the system, and more importantly, he’s actually been developed the right way.
Instead of reaching for another quarterback in the draft or hoping a veteran fixes everything, the Steelers should trust what they already have and start to build the team around his strengths and weaknesses.
For once, the answer isn’t complicated. It’s Will Howard.
