Steelers QB Will Howard Earns Strong Praise From Max Starks: "I Don't Care Where He Was Drafted"

The Pittsburgh Steelers surprised many when they made the decision to use their 76th draft pick on Penn State prospect QB Drew Allar. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike McCarthy made their stance really clear with that move regarding Will Howard. They signaled that they believe Allar has more long-term potential as a franchise quarterback option. It was a pick that immediately sparked debate, especially given the organization’s prior interest in Howard and the expectations surrounding both players entering the draft. Pittsburgh took Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. 

That is not to say they do not believe in Howard, because McCarthy has been open about his admiration for him. There is a clear level of trust in Howard’s abilities and mindset, but the distinction comes down to projection. McCarthy did not draft Howard, he drafted Allar, and that decision reflects where the team sees the higher ceiling. Allar’s physical tools and upside appear to have won out in the end, even if Howard remains very much in the conversation as a viable option moving forward.

Still, Howard made it clear during the first night of the draft that he is ready if Aaron Rodgers does not come to Pittsburgh. That confidence has not gone unnoticed, and it is part of what continues to make this situation intriguing. Steelers two-time Super Bowl champion Max Starks even went on Ben Roethlisberger’s Footbahlin podcast to share a strong endorsement for Howard, reinforcing the idea that there is real belief in his potential. The Steelers may have made their choice for the future when they took Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but the present still feels far from settled.

"I was so excited for the preseason," Starks said about when Howard got hurt ahead of the 2025 season. "I had him at Kansas State before he went to Ohio State too, so I have liked Will for a long time. Especially that Carolina game, he would have gotten a lot of reps. Then in Jacksonville, to not have him there. I thought, ok, things are starting to progress and he's gonna, but then boom, setback again."

Roethlisberger also added to the praise, pointing out how those postseason games are essentially like facing mini NFL teams, a sentiment Starks agreed with. Starks even noted that he had Howard during his time covering games in college and had the chance to watch him firsthand at Kansas State. 

That perspective carries weight because it reflects who Howard was before he played alongside a roster loaded with elevated talent at Ohio State, offering a more complete view of his development as a quarterback.

"I wanna see what he can do," Starks said about Howard. "I don't care where he was drafted. People are like, 'Oh, he wasn't drafted high,' who cares? He went to a big time program and won. He probably had one of the best postseason stretches of a quarterback in the playoff era."

Steelers' Will Howard Continues To Generate Hype

Hearing two prominent Steelers voices speak so highly of Howard is certainly intriguing. He has generated far more buzz than a normal sixth-round pick typically would, but there is a clear reason for that. Much of it comes down to who he is as a person and the mental makeup he brings to the position. That combination of leadership, confidence, and resilience continues to stand out, even as the spotlight grows brighter.

While Howard’s path to eventually starting in Pittsburgh may have become more difficult with the addition of Allar, the belief in him has not wavered. If Rodgers does arrive, Howard will have another season to develop before competing with Allar on the depth chart. The hope within the organization is clear, as McCarthy envisions a competitive environment where iron sharpens iron, pushing both young quarterbacks to reach their full potential.

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