The curtain has fallen on the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have finalized their picks, welcoming new, young talent to their roster. This year, the draft was held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the iconic Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers. However, the spotlight will shine on Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Steelers' very own city, as it proudly hosts the 2026 NFL Draft. Given the importance of the NFL Draft, preliminary preparations and discussions are already underway.
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The 2025 NFL Draft held in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Adding his voice to the early discussions surrounding the 2026 NFL Draft is Ray Fittipaldo, a Steelers insider. In a recent article published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Fittipaldo offered insight into the preliminary preparations already taking place for the 2026 NFL Draft. He highlighted how the Steelers are not only preparing to be the host city for this major event, but are also looking at potential players and specific positions as prospective draft targets.
"The Steelers have already begun preparations for playing host to next year’s draft and they’ve begun the process of breaking down the 2026 quarterbacks," Fittipaldo shared. "It’s a great draft if you’re in need of a quarterback. NFL Draft analysts have compared the 2026 quarterback class to the 2024 class."
The quarterback class of the 2025 NFL Draft was widely considered to be less strong compared to previous years, proven by the fact that only two quarterbacks were selected in the entire first round. Despite this assessment, the Steelers did address the quarterback position, though they waited until the second to last round of the draft to do so. With the 185th overall selection, the Steelers added Will Howard from Ohio State University to their roster.
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Steelers' selection QB Will Howard communicating during a game.
Howard capped off his time with the Buckeyes with an unforgettable final season. He was instrumental in their recent National Championship victory. Beyond team success, Howard dominated his conference individually, leading in several crucial stats. His conference-best 4,010 passing yards, coupled with a league-leading 35 touchdown passes, underscored his offensive prowess. Furthermore, his pinpoint accuracy was undeniable, as he topped the conference with a remarkable 73.0% completion rate.
While the Steelers are pleased with their sixth-round selection of Howard, who they hope will be a steal, Fittipaldo's comparison of the 2026 quarterback prospects to the loaded 2024 class provides context. The 2024 draft was surprisingly quarterback-rich, with six quarterbacks going in the top 12 selections. This demonstrated both the high value placed on the quarterback position and the exceptional depth of that year's quarterback pool.
Additionally, five of those six quarterbacks saw action last season, with four immediately stepping into starting roles. The only exception was JJ McCarthy, whose season-ending knee injury occurred before it began. It was widely anticipated that McCarthy would have been the Minnesota Vikings' starter. The upcoming 2026 NFL Draft class will offer an interesting point of comparison.
Steelers Might Still Be Searching For Their Franchise Quarterback
It's way too early to call anything, especially since Organized Team Activities (OTAs) haven't even started. That said, it's probably safe to say Howard won't be the Steelers' starting quarterback this year. However, the Steelers are still waiting to hear from veteran Aaron Rodgers, who is apparently in no rush to sign with no reported deadline. If Rodgers doesn't sign, it looks like Mason Rudolph would be the guy under center for 2025. At the end of the day, the Steelers have an option in Howard.
AP photo
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin meets with former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers after a game during the 2024 NFL season.
However, this current situation certainly doesn't stop the Steelers from thoroughly evaluating the quarterback prospects in next year's draft, particularly given its highly regarded grade. To truly explore all possibilities for their future, the Steelers will absolutely be considering this upcoming class. Ultimately, the selection of a quarterback, or any player for that matter, is heavily influenced by their draft position and the available draft capital. The Steelers' performance throughout the 2025 NFL season will therefore significantly shape their draft standing and potential choices. Yet, with Head Coach Mike Tomlin's impressive record of never having a losing season, a question arises regarding the precise draft slot the Steelers will have and, the caliber of players they will have the opportunity to select.
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