With offseason actions simply across the nook, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback state of affairs remains to be bleak. They might signal Aaron Rodgers, however that’s not assured. Additionally, even when they do signal Rodgers, that isn’t a long-term resolution. Will Howard does present some hope, however as a sixth-round decide, he’s a protracted shot to grow to be a franchise participant. Chris Simms thinks Howard has a number of flaws in his sport.
“What number of instances did I’ve individuals on my Instagram or Twitter taking a look at it going, ‘Why isn’t Will Howard being talked about as a first-round or a second-round quarterback?’” Simms requested on Monday on his podcast, Chris Simms Unbuttoned. “I don’t know, as a result of his arm is beneath common.
“As a result of he’s not extremely correct and he’s not the best athlete on the planet. Apart from that, he needs to be the primary decide of the draft. I’m not attempting to get on Will Howard, however it’s simply the expectations.”
Howard isn’t an ideal participant. There are the explanation why he fell to the sixth spherical, even in a down quarterback class. Whereas Howard was unimaginable within the faculty soccer playoffs final 12 months, particularly the Nationwide Championship, that success shouldn’t erase his points.
Simms is right that Howard’s arm energy isn’t unimaginable. Nevertheless, his accuracy and contact are fairly good. If he can work to enhance the ability of his arm, he may discover success within the NFL. He’s acquired the prototypical dimension for an NFL quarterback, and whereas he isn’t an incredible athlete, he isn’t a statue, both. Howard can transfer.
Simms has a concept about why some followers have such excessive expectations for Howard.
“I feel it’s due to the symbol on the helmet. Folks have a look at that they usually go, ‘Wait, they’re a top-five group within the nation. He’s the quarterback. He’s acquired to be one of many high quarterbacks within the draft.’ No, there’s a bunch of first-round gamers on the soccer group with him. The quarterback is getting the good thing about how superior the group is there.”
That evaluation isn’t incorrect. Ohio State was loaded on offense final 12 months. At operating again, that they had TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, each second-round picks on this 12 months’s draft. Receiver was equally stuffed with expertise, headlined by Emeka Egbuka, a first-round decide this 12 months, and Jeremiah Smith, some of the sensational freshmen in all of faculty soccer.
Ohio State’s offensive line was additionally a fantastic unit. Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson have been each first-round picks within the 2025 draft, though Simmons solely performed in six video games in 2024.
Though Howard was a key piece for Ohio State final 12 months, he was surrounded by expertise. He shouldn’t obtain all of the credit score for the group’s success. Whereas he was good in 2023, he wasn’t as profitable in his 4 years at Kansas State earlier than transferring to Ohio State.
Simms didn’t solely have damaging issues to say about Howard, although.
“He’s skilled, he’s powerful, he’s performed big-time soccer, and I do suppose he’ll be a dependable backup. Perhaps there’s some issues that he can develop in his sport.”
To some, that may nonetheless sound like a slight, however most quarterbacks taken within the sixth spherical don’t even grow to be dependable backups. If Howard can try this, that decide would look glorious for the Steelers. Not each late-round quarterback turns into Tom Brady or Brock Purdy.
May Howard grow to be a franchise quarterback? Sure, as a result of only a few issues are unimaginable within the NFL. Nevertheless, it’s unbelievable. Don’t anticipate him to win the beginning job this 12 months and lead the Steelers on a deep playoff run. Whereas he was unimaginable at Ohio State, tempering expectations for any draft decide is essential. Howard has his entire NFL future in entrance of him, and it stays to be seen what that entails.
