The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some uncertainty at the quarterback position over the last handful of years, and the quarterback room is getting completely turned over for the second season in a row. Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, the only two quarterbacks on the roster were Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, but now Pittsburgh has added to that room by selecting Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Howard is not expected to start in 2025, but the organization will be looking to develop him over his rookie year.
Butch Dill / Associated Press
Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 NFL Draft sixth-round selection, quarterback Will Howard during the 2025 National Championship with Ohio State.
As of now, Rudolph is the presumptive starter for the Steelers, but the organization has also been heavily linked to Aaron Rodgers ever since the first week of free agency. All signs continue to point to Rodgers eventually signing in Pittsburgh, which would give Howard one of the best quarterbacks in league history to learn from. Howard spoke with the media on a conference call after being drafted, where he was asked about being a developmental project.
Will Howard on Art Rooney II saying a QB selected in the draft would likely be a developmental player:
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) April 26, 2025
"I don't do things half in, I go all in and I have every expectation that this next step with the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be amazing for me."
Part of being a developmental player is being a backup, and there is a good chance Howard will end up being third on the depth chart at quarterback. If Rodgers signs, he would certainly be the starter, and Rudolph would more than likely be the primary backup. This is the reality of the situation, but Howard sounds like a prospect that is ready to compete, regardless of the circumstances.
Kyusung Gong / AP photo
The Pittsburgh Steelers find a new quarterback in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Will Howard.
Howard has some experience being a backup, and he also has experience competing for a starting job. He began his college career at Kansas State, where he joined a roster that had a three-year starter on it. It just so happens that the quarterback in front of Howard at Kansas State was Thompson. During Howard's freshman season in 2020, Thompson went down with a serious upper-body injury and Howard filled in. The two then competed for the starting job in 2021.
Thompson won the starting job, but Howard filled in and started some games due to injuries to Thompson. Thompson will be the fourth quarterback on Pittsburgh's roster heading into training camp, assuming the organization gets a deal done with Rodgers. The team always goes into camp with four quarterbacks, but Thompson will likely be cut at the end of the process.
The rookie quarterback is going to have low expectations as a sixth-round pick, but he could end up being a diamond in the rough for Pittsburgh. Rodgers would be a temporary fix for the Steelers at quarterback, as he will likely sign a one-year deal, which could open the door for Howard in 2026.
Julio Cortez / AP photo
Steelers' 2025 NFL Draft selections from Ohio State, Will Howard and Jack Sawyer, after winning the CFP National Championship in January of 2025.
Steelers' Will Howard Always Lives Up To The Moment
Howard is a special player in that it doesn't seem like he feels pressure. Ohio State lost in a heartbreaking upset to their bitter rivals late in the 2024 season, but the team still punched a ticket to the College Football Playoff. Howard then continued to lead his team through a playoff gauntlet, and he wound up playing great in the National Championship. The quarterback is used to the pressure, and that experience will only help him as he begins his journey of trying to become a starting quarterback in Pittsburgh. The rookie is coming off of his best season of football as he threw for 35 touchdowns in 2024.
What did you think of Howard's comments? Did you like the pick? Let us know in the comment section below!
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