Participant: QB Will Howard
Inventory Worth: Bought
Reasoning: The Steelers added Will Howard because the third new quarterback of their room this offseason, finishing one other top-to-bottom turnover. Mason Rudolph is a returnee, however he’s new to Arthur Smith’s offense after parting in free company final 12 months. Whether or not Rudolph or Rodgers begins, although, Howard is prone to function the emergency quarterback throughout his rookie season.
The percentages don’t favor Steelers rookie QB Will Howard creating right into a long-term starter, however that’s not the one metric by which he must be judged. Most sixth-round quarterbacks don’t even final very lengthy within the league, and good backups are worthwhile. I’m certain the Steelers actually could be happy if he developed into one other Mason Rudolph. And even Landry Jones.
However the strain, no less than from some segments of the fan base, is larger simply due to the present scenario. The Steelers don’t have a franchise quarterback, and Will Howard is their newest draft choose. Regardless that Artwork Rooney II got here out and mentioned any quarterback they might draft could be a developmental man, some will connect their hopes to Howard.
Briefly, no less than, because the Steelers shall be again within the hunt for a franchise quarterback subsequent 12 months. It’s unlikely that Will Howard will even have the chance this offseason to showcase his abilities very a lot. Definitely not sufficient to persuade a workforce to forego a first-round quarterback a 12 months later.
However maybe we—and I–ought to actually cease speaking about Will Howard when it comes to the Steelers’ beginning quarterback job. He isn’t that, and it’s presently an unreasonable expectation, circumstantially or evaluatively. Until or till he forces the narrative to shift, let’s simply let him sit again and be taught. Within the meantime, I’ll attempt to take my very own recommendation going ahead. It’s not his fault the Steelers didn’t add anybody higher than Mason Rudolph at quarterback this offseason.
With the brand new league 12 months underway and the Steelers turning their roster over, it’s as soon as once more time to “take inventory”. It took some time, however we lastly noticed a few of that change the workforce talked about after the season ended. Definitely, the transfer to commerce for WR DK Metcalf qualifies as a change, to not point out the accompanying contract.
There may be nonetheless an extended method to go earlier than we all know what this Steelers workforce goes to seem like. The mud is settled on each free company and the 2025 NFL Draft. What different strikes would possibly the workforce make, maybe sudden acquisitions or departures? In the event that they traded for one participant, they might actually commerce for an additional, or commerce one away. It is a Steelers workforce ravenous for postseason success, however how determined are they for a playoff win in 2025?
