Similar to it was in 2022, quarterback was the place producing essentially the most curiosity headed into the 2025 NFL Draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In contrast to 2022 the place they drafted quarterback Kenny Pickett with the twentieth total decide, Omar Khan and the Steelers waited all the best way till decide No. 185 within the sixth spherical to snag Ohio State Nationwide Championship profitable quarterback Will Howard.
Analysts and TV pundits had been debating whether or not the Steelers would take Shedeur Sanders within the first spherical, or maybe Tyler Shough within the third, however they finally waited to deal with the place and nonetheless ended up with a really strong possibility in Howard.
On Saturday’s episode of The Arthur Moats Expertise, the previous Steelers linebacker hosted former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch for a full interview. Moats requested Batch about his favourite draft decide, and naturally the previous quarterback took the possibility to elaborate on Will Howard and his potential trajectory with the Steelers.
“I believe if you have a look at what Will brings to the equation, I do know he went within the sixth spherical, however finally can they develop him now as a result of he’s not in a rush to truly must play,” mentioned Batch. “However the reps he’s going to get all through…if the roster stays what it’s right this moment, there will probably be a robust probability he can compete for that backup and finally put his hand within the pile because it pertains to what it appears to be like like transferring ahead for that beginning place.”
Expertise isn’t a difficulty for Will Howard, who performed 5 years of faculty soccer, together with 4 at Kansas State earlier than an unimaginable closing season at Ohio State the place he threw for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns whereas main his crew on a convincing Nationwide Championship run. Howard didn’t soften below the brilliant lights and expectations in Columbus, as a substitute he elevated his recreation.
However he’ll must take his recreation to a complete new degree if he’s going to develop right into a future beginning quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Because the roster stands, the Steelers have three rostered quarterbacks. Mason Rudolph is the starter, with Skylar Thompson and Howard because the back-ups. Assuming Aaron Rodgers doesn’t signal with Pittsburgh, Howard ought to have a wonderful alternative to win the first back-up function this season. Thompson hasn’t been spectacular in his ten profession NFL video games, finishing simply 58.7% of his passes with only one profession landing.
As a sixth-round decide, the Steelers haven’t any intentions of dashing Howard onto the sphere like they did with Kenny Pickett. He’ll be coping with loads much less strain this 12 months than he did when he transferred to Ohio State. If he’s capable of decide up the offense, be taught from a veteran like Mason Rudolph, and shine throughout observe and the preseason, than Howard ought to completely get an opportunity to compete for the long run beginning quarterback job because the Steelers seek for long-term options past 2025.
