The Pittsburgh Steelers had many pundits convinced they were going to take a quarterback early in the 2025 NFL Draft. That quickly proved untrue, as they waited until the sixth round to select rookie quarterback Will Howard. Many viewed the pick as a potential steal, especially since Howard led his team to a National Championship in 2024. However, others believe he slipped for a reason, citing questions about his accuracy, decision-making, and overall consistency.
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Steelers' Will Howard throws the football during the College Football Playoff.
As the 2025 season approaches, Howard is determined to prove he was overlooked. Many felt that Howard was overlooked during the pre-draft process. He came in and impressed during interviews, but it didn’t seem to matter. He still watched quarterbacks with less impressive résumés get drafted ahead of him. That lit a fire in him, and he is now hungry to prove himself in the NFL. Howard truly believes in his ability and is determined to make the most of his opportunity.
Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger is a strong supporter of Howard and was excited to see the team draft him. On a recent episode of his podcast Footbahlin, Roethlisberger explained why he believes in Howard’s potential but also shared his concern about the challenges ahead. He admitted he is fearful it may be difficult for Howard to succeed in Pittsburgh because of the high expectations and limited margin for error given his draft position. Still, Roethlisberger made it clear he is pulling for Howard to prove everyone wrong.
"Will’s road is going to be tough here in Pittsburgh, I believe," Roethlisberger said. "Unless he gets a chance to get out there and plays well right from the get-go. He’s not going to be allowed to have hiccups."
Roethlisberger is simply pointing out that the Steelers have Aaron Rodgers as their starter for 2025. They also brought back Mason Rudolph and paid him to be the backup.
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Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger looks on while quarterback Mason Rudolph throws the football during practice.
He is saying, based on his years of experience watching these situations unfold, that if Howard does not beat out Rudolph early or at least make it a real conversation, he could find himself stuck at the bottom of the quarterback depth chart in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future.
"I would see all of him [in the preseason]," Roethlisberger said. "Here’s what I would do. I would split time with Howard and Mason [Rudolph] in the preseason… I would split as many reps as I can with Will and Mason. You want to see both guys with the same offense."
The Steelers have also made it pretty clear they are targeting their next franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. They have Rodgers for now, but he is expected to retire after the 2025 season. That leaves Rudolph and Howard in what should be an interesting battle for the second and third spots on the depth chart.
Rudolph likely holds the advantage heading into camp, given his familiarity with the system and his impressive finish to the 2023 season, where he helped lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs despite the odds being stacked against them. If the Steelers do draft a quarterback early in 2026, it will make it even harder for Howard to climb the depth chart and earn a meaningful role in the future.
Steelers' Will Howard Might Be In A Bad Spot
Roethlisberger pointed out that success at the position is not always based on talent alone. When a team spends early draft capital on a quarterback, they are more invested and obligated to give that player opportunities because of the risk involved.
Up & Adams Show
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Will Howard speaks with Kay Adams about his rookie season in the Steel City.
Howard being a sixth-round pick means the odds are stacked against him, but he remains extremely confident. If he gets a chance and performs well early, many believe he has the potential to turn some heads. For Howard, he has been doubted his entire football career. Now he has to prove it all over again.
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