The Pittsburgh Steelers are expecting to get Aaron Rodgers back, but behind him is an interesting group of options competing for the backup role and a spot on the 53-man roster. Mason Rudolph is the veteran of the group, while also being the favorite to be the odd man out. He will be battling it out with Will Howard, the 2025 sixth-round pick, as he looks to prove the team right with all the praise they've given him. Meanwhile, third-round rookie Drew Allar will almost certainly be scout team quarterback for the 2026 season.
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Steelers' newly drafted quarterback Drew Allar celebrates during his time in college at Penn State in a game in 2023.
While hosting his show, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger revealed exactly who he liked the most out of that group of backup options.
"When I watch tape, or if I watch games, Will Howard jumped off the tape way more to me than Drew [Allar] did," Roethlisberger said. "Third round, sixth round, it's interesting."
Obviously, the feud between Roethlisberger and Rudolph has been very well-documented, even though the former Super Bowl champion has denied it in recent years. At this point, the options are the two young guns, and he clearly loves what he has seen from Howard a lot more than Allar. If we were to take a poll of the fan base, many of them would most likely agree with his take.
Allar was not drafted in the third round because of his tape. He has developed a reputation for being a choker in important games. Mechanically, he is severely flawed. His season-ending injury in the 2025 season robbed him of a chance to undo one or more of the negative traits placed on him, and that's why he was taken in the third round. In fact, some people were shocked that he got drafted as high as he did.
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Former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar prepares to throw a football as he warms up prior to the team competing in a collegiate football event.
The whole reason Allar was drafted at Pick 76 was the fact that he has everything you can't teach. His body and physical traits have been compared to Josh Allen, another raw quarterback prospect with severe mechanical flaws. While the odds of him reaching Allen's level are slim to none, proper coaching could also make him become a quality quarterback. The tape isn't there, but the body is.
Meanwhile, Howard is seen as the exact opposite. The tape and leadership have shown great things about him, as he helped lead his Ohio State Buckeyes from one of the more embarrassing losses in recent memory for the team to a National Championship victory just 1-2 months later. Mentally, he seems to be all there. Physically, there are definitely some questions about him at the NFL level.
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Steelers quarterback Will Howard gets ready to unleash a pass as he runs through a drill as the team works out during the annual Friday Night Lights practice in Latrobe, PA.
Unlike Allar, Howard is not the biggest guy, the fastest guy, nor does he have the strongest arm. He relies a lot more on his brain than pure physical talent to get the job done. There are definitely plenty of quarterbacks who have thrived with that similar mold, but the ceiling is not nearly as high as the new rookie's upside. He can develop into a quality quarterback, but his true ability at the NFL level is still in question.
Steelers Will Most Likely Have Answer On Young Quarterbacks In 2027
After the 2026 season, Rodgers will most likely be retired, and Rudolph will probably be on another team. Whether the Steelers will be able to draft a quarterback in the first round or not that year, there will be a microscope placed on Howard and Allar. The future 2027 rookie may not be the starter in Week 1, so the young guns would end up battling for the right to start until he is ready.
What do you think about Roethlisberger loving Howard more than the other quarterbacks on the roster? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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