Steelers May Have Deceptive Reason For Confidence In Will Howard

The Pittsburgh Steelers are caught up in quarterback uncertainty again in 2026. There's plenty of speculation as to who will be under center for the Black and Gold. The organization still waits, as it did in 2025, for Aaron Rodgers to decide on his future. If he were to retire, the door would be open for 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard to step in. As of late, the Steelers have expressed confidence in Howard and his abilities, including Head Coach Mike McCarthy. 

The former Ohio State National Champion did not play a single snap during his rookie year, even in the preseason. He nursed a broken bone in his hand and began the year on the Injured Reserve (IR). Despite not seeing NFL action besides Steelers practice, the front office and coaching staff seem to like what they see from Howard. His 6'4", 235-pound frame gives him a real advantage in AFC North football, and Pittsburgh isn't shy about wanting to have big quarterbacks. 

However, on a recent episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, Steelers beat reporter Brian Batko spoke about potentially deceptive confidence in Howard. Batko broke down McCarthy's comments and how they relate to the Steelers' plans at the position. 

"I think to an extent it is because if you're going to negotiate with potential starting quarterbacks, especially Aaron Rodgers," Batko said. "If you don't raise a reasonable belief that Mason Rudolph or Will Howard can take the ball for you week one next year, anybody else that you might want to sign to do that, they can drive up their price a lot because they're going to say, 'Well, look at your depth chart.'"

The Steelers have yet to agree to terms with Rodgers, and the organization's confidence in Howard could definitely be so that Rodgers doesn't raise his price too much. Rodgers played 2025 on a one-year, $13.65 million contract. 

The deal had many performance-based incentives and included a $10 million signing bonus. This wasn't much of a price to pay for the season that Rodgers had in 2025. It doesn't seem like he'll want a whole lot more this time around; however, former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch believes that Rodgers' contract situation is what's preventing him from signing.

No matter what, the confidence in Howard could be purely for business purposes. Howard has the skill to be a solid quarterback if given the chance, but this much faith in a sixth-round pick who has never played a snap seems exaggerated. 

The Steelers cannot afford to lose out on Rodgers, but they definitely don't want to be paying him something like $30 million in 2026. Pittsburgh will continue to endure the waiting game that is the four-time MVP and 42-year-old. While he had a solid year, the team should make sure it isn't breaking the bank. 

Steelers Need To Truly Evaluate What They Have In Howard

While it seems to be a smoke screen with Howard right now, it doesn't mean he can't be a contributor in the future. The team barely saw what he could do in 2025, especially in game-time situations. He won a College Football Playoff Championship in college, but hasn't had a chance at the NFL level. 

The 2026 preseason and training camp periods will be a huge test for what the organization has in Howard. He'll be able to prove whether or not he could be involved in the team's future plans. 

McCarthy is widely regarded as a quarterback developer, and Howard will have a chance to greatly benefit from his system. The young signal caller will have a serious chance at quality reps, and that's exactly what the Steelers need to see. They just haven't seen enough of him, and this confidence is someone they haven't seen play a game is seemingly just a contract negotiation tactic. But it doesn't mean Howard can never be a starting quarterback in this league. 

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