The Pittsburgh Steelers may have an interesting development building in their quarterback room as the team moves closer to training camp. Will Howard did not get the rookie season he wanted, but his spring work appears to have given Pittsburgh something more encouraging to consider. That matters because Howard’s first year was basically put on pause before it ever really had a chance to get going.
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Steelers QB Will Howard during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers selected Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after he helped lead Ohio State to a national championship. He had the size, experience, and college production that made him an intriguing developmental option, but his first NFL summer was derailed by a finger injury in training camp. That injury cost him valuable time.
For a rookie quarterback, preseason reps can be everything. It is one thing to take mental reps, sit in meetings, and learn the offense from the sideline. It is another thing to actually get live game action, handle pressure, run a huddle, and see how fast the NFL game feels when the lights are on. Howard missed that part of the process, which made this offseason especially important.
Brian Batko, who writes for Steelers.com and talks on Steelers Nation Radio, recently pointed to Howard as one of the offensive players who stood out during the spring.
"On offense, I will say Will Howard. I think Will progressed pretty nicely throughout the spring," Batko said. "Maybe you take that for granted a little bit because he was here last season and he was a relatively polished product coming out of Ohio State, albeit as a sixth-rounder. But it was a disappointing rookie year for him on the field, obviously, because of that finger injury in training camp and not getting a chance to get those feet wet in preseason action."
That is the type of progress the Steelers needed to see. Howard is not being asked to save the franchise in June. He is not being pushed into a situation where he has to win the starting job immediately. Aaron Rodgers is expected to lead the room, while Mason Rudolph gives Pittsburgh a veteran option with experience in the building. Still, Howard has plenty to play for.
The Steelers have to figure out what his long-term ceiling actually is. That is hard to do when a player’s rookie season never really gets off the ground. Howard’s injury robbed him of the easiest way to make a real impression, and it also slowed down the evaluation process for the coaching staff. That is why a strong spring is not meaningless.
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Steelers quarterback Will Howard in warmups of a regular season game against the Browns in the 2025 season.
Organized Team Activities do not decide jobs by themselves, and quarterbacks are not dealing with the full pressure of live contact. However, the Steelers can still evaluate command, accuracy, timing, footwork, communication, and comfort in the offense. Howard needed to show he was not just a name from last year’s draft class. He needed to show he was still developing. According to Batko, he did that.
The timing is important because Mike McCarthy has made quarterback development a major part of his early work in Pittsburgh. Howard and Drew Allar are both young players trying to prove they can become part of the Steelers’ future. Neither one can afford wasted reps. Howard may have an edge simply because he has already been through an NFL season, even if he did not get the game action he wanted. He has sat in meetings, learned how professionals prepare, and seen what a full year looks like from inside the building. That experience can still matter.
The Steelers already had reason to believe Howard could make a strong case for a bigger role, and this spring update gives that idea more weight.
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The most important part of Howard’s summer may be the preseason. That is where last year’s lost opportunity can finally be replaced. Practice growth is good, but Howard needs snaps against another team. He needs to show whether the spring improvement carries over when the pocket moves, the defense disguises looks, and mistakes become more visible.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' second-year quarterback Will Howard getting some reps in at OTAs.
That does not mean he has to be perfect. For Howard, the goal should be steady command. Get the offense lined up. Take care of the football. Make the routine throws. Show enough arm talent and poise to keep the Steelers interested in his development.
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