Steelers' Arthur Smith Sends Clear Message About Rookie QB Will Howard

The Pittsburgh Steelers had many draft experts believing they could go out and draft a quarterback in the early stages of the 2025 NFL Draft. As the draft unfolded, it became obvious that if the Steelers wanted a top prospect, they had every opportunity to select one. Instead, they chose to wait and target their next franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, in the sixth round, the Steelers found a rookie quarterback they liked in Will Howard and saw it as a great value pick.

Howard did a tremendous job leading Ohio State to a National Championship victory in his final season. His combination of size, arm strength, and leadership made him one of the more intriguing late-round quarterbacks in the class. Many fans are hoping Howard can develop into something more than his draft position suggests, and every bit of news coming out of training camp has only increased interest in his progress.

On Monday, Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith joined 93.7 The Fan and gave his honest thoughts on Howard’s performance so far. Smith didn’t sugarcoat it, calling Howard a hard worker who has already shown flashes of high-level play in camp. While he acknowledged the rookie still has a long way to go, Smith made it clear that the coaching staff sees potential in Howard and is excited to continue developing him through the preseason.

"I've been impressed with Will," Smith said. "You saw it on film him and you get to know him as a person. He's very mature from the neck up. He's as good as any young guy in terms of recall, huddle command."

While Smith made sure not to go overboard with praise, he gave Howard plenty of credit for how he's handled himself so far. It’s clear the sixth-round pick is making a strong first impression and showing the coaching staff that he belongs.

What really stood out in Smith’s comments was how much he emphasized Howard’s intangibles. It sounds like Howard has already earned the respect of the locker room with his work ethic, preparation, and leadership. Those qualities helped him lead OSU to a National Championship, and now the Steelers are seeing that same presence from him in their building.

"He's still a rookie," Smith said. "They all have to adjust to the speed. But Will's done a nice job."

Howard has a history of inspiring teammates wherever he goes, and it’s clear Smith sees that in him already. The rookie is doing more than just learning the playbook. He has also started emerging as the kind of teammate and competitor Pittsburgh values. For a sixth-round pick, Howard is doing exactly what he needs to do to make a name for himself early.

Ben Roethlisberger said Howard needed to get off to a hot start. That is pivotal because the Steelers will likely be searching for their franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the expectation that the team will invest in a high draft pick, Howard could soon find himself at a major disadvantage in the competition.

Steelers' Will Howard Off To Hot Start In Camp

However, Howard does have one clear advantage. He will already be in the quarterback room a year earlier, which could give him valuable experience and help him gain some early footing. So far, he has taken Roethlisberger’s advice seriously, and it sounds like he is off to a strong start in training camp.

If Howard can develop into a reliable backup quarterback, that would be an exciting outcome for a sixth-round pick. If he turns into anything more than that, it would be a bonus and a major win for the Steelers.

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