The Pittsburgh Steelers have some quarterback issues, and that has been the case for the last several seasons. The organization has been lost on offense ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season, and the quarterback room is completely turning over for the second season in a row. This is not a sign of success as quarterback is arguably the most important position in all of sports, and it is nearly impossible to make any noise in the postseason without a high-caliber player at the position.
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Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger waves to fans as he walks off the Kansas City Chiefs home turf.
Roethlisberger was Pittsburgh's quarterback for 18 seasons, so the Steelers didn't really have to worry about the quarterback position for a long time. That changed upon his retirement, and the organization is still searching for an adequate replacement. Currently, Mason Rudolph is the starter with Skylar Thompson and Will Howard behind him. There also seems to be a good chance that four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers will be signing in Pittsburgh, although he is taking his time making a decision.
In the meantime, Pittsburgh selected Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and they were praised for the move by Aditi Kinkhabwala on 93.7 The Fan.
"They took a shot on a developmental quarterback in Will Howard, and if he turns into a number two, great," Kinkhabwala said. "The kid's a good athlete, he's got good leadership traits. Every year, you take a chance on a guy who's a developmental guy. Okay, so they did it right."
Drafting a developmental quarterback in most years is something the Philadelphia Eagles do. The idea is that the organization might be able to find a diamond in the rough at the position, while also developing a nice trade piece. For example, in 2023, the Eagles drafted Tanner McKee; in 2024, they traded for Kenny Pickett, and they just drafted Kyle McCord in 2025.
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Former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett throws the football during a preseason game with the Eagles.
Pickett was able to put some good playing time on tape for the Eagles during the 2024 season. That led to him being traded during the offseason, which recouped some draft capital for Philadelphia. This is their philosophy, as every season, some team around the league gets into trouble at quarterback and can be thought to potentially trade for one.
Even Jalen Hurts was a sort of developmental pick for the Eagles. He was drafted in the second round back in 2020, and he started his career as the third string quarterback. He eventually become the primary backup to Carson Wentz, and he took over the job once Wentz was benched in 2020.
Hurts has turned into a franchise quarterback for the Eagles, and maybe that can happen for the Steelers with Howard. However, there is a big difference between a second-round pick and a sixth-round selection.
Steelers' Quarterback Plan Remains Up In The Air
Rodgers eventually signing in Pittsburgh is not a sure thing, which would likely mean that Rudolph would begin the season as the starting quarterback for Pittsburgh. It is hard to imagine that Rudolph would be able to get through a 17-game season without being benched, and the player to relieve him might just be Howard. If this is the plan for the Steelers and the organization does not land with Howard, the fan base would not be very happy. Many believe that Howard has the potential to surprise the league.
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Steelers' Will Howard runs the field during his time playing with the Buckeyes in college.
It is easier to add developmental quarterbacks once an organization's franchise quarterback is already in place. However, this is the start of building a homegrown quarterback room, which will hopefully be welcoming a franchise player at the position in 2026.
What do you want to see happen with Howard's career in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!
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