Steelers Receive Interesting Comparison Between Will Howard And A Top Quarterback Prospect

The Pittsburgh Steelers seemingly got a high value pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, as quarterback Will Howard was not expected to fall all the way to their selection spot. Who knows what kind of upside he truly has, but he can at least bring some much-needed stability to a position group that has had complete turnover for two years in a row. The whole draft class was seen as a weak one in 2025, so it doesn't hurt to look for value over a potential reach in the early part of the annual event.

While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Ryan Wilson was asked about Howard and why he fell so hard in the draft. Instead, Wilson compared him to a quarterback that got taken over 100 picks sooner than him who also had his fair share of struggles.

"We can have this conversation about a lot of guys, including Tyler Shough by the way, who played literally seven [college] seasons and started one year, and it was this last year," said Wilson. "There's not a huge separation for me from Shough and Will Howard. I thought they both were probably late Day 2 or Day 3 guys. We'll find out together, but there just wasn't the consistency there."

While Howard got taken with the 185th overall pick, Tyler Shough was selected 40th overall by the New Orleans Saints, and he is projected to be the Day 1 starter with the injury to Derek Carr. If they truly are not very different, then the Steelers got amazing value for a probably high-end backup that may be able to develop into a starter someday. 

The biggest difference between Shough and Howard is the overall experience at college. The new Steelers' selection had an overall normal time for any draft pick: played well with the Kansas State Wildcats, transferred to a better team, struggled at first, then got his act together and played well. Besides the pure dominance in the College Football Playoffs, his college career wasn't particular too special.

Meanwhile, Shough was one of the most experienced quarterbacks ever. The main reason for that was he kept getting injured, and that gave him extra years of eligibility. In his only completely healthy year in 2024, he lit the world on fire with over 3,100 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. His resilience made him a very popular prospect throughout the draft process. 

After the NFL Combine, Shough's stock shot up from a probable Day 3 pick to a potential first-round selection, while Howard's stayed neutral. Whether it was the pre-draft interviews, overlooked pieces being brought up, or general offseason boredom, scouts and analysts across the country suddenly thought that the soon-to-be 26-year-old could be exactly the kind of guy that could be an immediate impact player once he stepped onto the practice field for the first time. 

Steelers Won't Truly Know About Howard Immediately

Shough will most likely get the chance to show off what he can do immediately because of the Saints' murky quarterback situation. Meanwhile, Howard could get buried deeper in the depth chart if Aaron Rodgers finally signs a deal with Pittsburgh, so he most likely won't see a single snap during the 2025 season. Whether the two rookies are similar or not, it likely won't be known for at least a few years -- or possibly ever.

Even after Rodgers is likely gone in 2026, the Steelers will most likely be looking to draft a first-round quarterback then. Howard was drafted as a developmental piece that would most likely become a long-term backup, while Shough is expected to play right away. It would have to take some bad play and/or unfortunate injuries to see how the sixth-rounder truly compares to the second-rounder.

What do you think about Shough and Howard being similar prospects with different paths? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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