The Pittsburgh Steelers are nonetheless awaiting a choice from 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers in hopes of solidifying the beginning quarterback job for the 2205 season on the very least. Nevertheless, because the workforce continues to take a seat and wait and expertise some uncertainty, the idea is that the Steelers at the moment have an intriguing long-term choice beneath heart on the roster.
That might be former Ohio State quarterback and present rookie sixth-round decide Will Howard.
For ESPN’s Jordan Reid, it was stunning that the Steelers waited till the sixth spherical to draft a quarterback within the 2025 NFL Draft in Inexperienced Bay. Nevertheless, they landed an excellent slot in Howard, who initiatives nicely in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offensive scheme transferring ahead.
“Whereas it was stunning to see Pittsburgh wait till Spherical 6 to choose a quarterback, Howard is a perfect match. His 89.6 QBR topped the FBS, whereas his 73% completion proportion ranked second,” Reid writes relating to Howard and the way he matches with the Steelers. “He has wonderful dimension (6-foot-4, 235 kilos) and mobility, and he continues to enhance as a passer.”
Howard’s dimension and mobility are relatively intriguing. He’s a giant, robust quarterback who can stand within the pocket and make performs. He additionally brings a run-game factor to the desk, as he served as a great short-yardage quarterback for Ohio State throughout their run to the nationwide championship final season.
He can even make some performs on the transfer, exhibiting off his accuracy on rollouts and scrambles when the pocket collapsed. Smith and the Steelers can work with that, contemplating the second-year offensive coordinator likes to make the most of bootlegs, rollouts, and play-action passing inside his offense.
Not solely is it a great match scheme-wise, however play-style and build-wise, it’s a great place for Howard to land in. He’s that large, robust, bodily quarterback that matches what the Steelers usually search for. He confirmed that dimension, energy, and confidence throughout his collegiate profession.
Howard brings a substantial amount of expertise to the desk, having began 44 video games in his collegiate profession, together with 28 at Kansas State and all 16 final season at Ohio State whereas main the Buckeyes to the nationwide championship. He additionally displayed the flexibility to choose up a brand new offense shortly, doing so with Chip Kelly’s scheme at Ohio State, turning it on within the playoffs, and taking part in at a excessive stage.
Now, he’s off to Pittsburgh, the place he’s hoping to go from a great scheme and tradition match to a great beginning quarterback for the Black and Gold. He could possibly be fairly the sleeper, one who develops into that beginning quarterback for the Steelers.
Simply don’t anticipate him to be the starter in Pittsburgh in 2025, until one thing goes considerably incorrect.
“Although the Steelers are ready on Aaron Rodgers’ resolution, Howard’s function is unlikely to alter both method,” ESPN’s Brooke Pryor writes of Howard and his function in 2025. “Proprietor Artwork Rooney II stated as a lot in a radio interview throughout the draft, saying “it’s not going” a drafted QB would “have a huge impact on this season.” So, Howard initiatives to be the No. 2 or No. 3 QB on the depth chart behind a minimum of Mason Rudolph in Week 1.
“And whereas he represents good worth as a sixth-round decide, he nonetheless must develop if he’s going to be a beginning NFL quarterback sooner or later.”
Nonetheless ready on a choice from Rodgers, the Steelers’ quarterback place is in a holding sample. Ought to Rodgers determine to signal, he’ll step in because the beginning quarterback, with Mason Rudolph sliding into the No. 2 function and presumably Howard because the No. 3 and developmental piece.
Ideally, that’s the best-case situation for Howard in 2025 with the Steelers. That may give him an opportunity to take a seat again, study beneath a future Corridor of Fame quarterback, and alter to the day-to-day grind of the NFL. That might be a win-win for the Steelers and will actually assist Howard long-term in his profession.
