Steelers' Will Howard Exposed His Ideal Draft Destination: "Thankful That Didn't Work Out"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stringing fans along when it comes to the franchise's quarterback situation. The wait for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision on his future has been unbearable, but it seems like it could be coming to an end within the next few days. Rodgers is expected to be the starter for the 2026 season, which means he will have another year of serving as a mentor to Will Howard. Howard was drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Steelers, and there has been some hype building around the young quarterback throughout the 2026 offseason.

A lot has been discussed about Howard. Many were shocked he fell to the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, especially after winning the National Championship and going on an extremely impressive run during the College Football Playoff. He played at a high level against some of the best teams in the country, and he should have been higher on some teams' draft boards. He recently appeared on The Christian Kuntz podcast, where he was asked about his draft process and where he wanted to go.

"I knew going into the weekend that Pittsburgh was one of the teams that we had been hearing a lot about, that like me a lot," Howard said. "And honestly, the two that I was kind of hoping for was either the Raiders, which obviously I'm so thankful that didn't work out. The only reason really was because of Chip Kelly. He was their OC, there was a lot of familiarity, maybe they'll take me earlier than, you know, they should. Obviously he's not there anymore, so it works out. But then, the next one was Pittsburgh, man."

Howard was hopeful to go to the Las Vegas Raiders so that he could reunite with his offensive coordinator from the time he spent at Ohio State, Chip Kelly. It was a good thought process. The Raiders' quarterback situation was not great, and reuniting with his play-caller from college probably would have helped his transition into the NFL.

Howard showed some gratitude for not being drafted to the Raiders. Las Vegas has had a rough stretch as a franchise, and Kelly was fired before the 2025 season even ended. The Raiders were 2-9 and Kelly was let go. Things would have been messy had Howard been selected by Las Vegas.

The Steelers did a good job of drafting Howard when they did. Howard was the 185th overall pick in the event, and the Raiders wound up selecting a quarterback with the 215th overall pick. Had Pittsburgh passed on Howard at 185, there is a good chance that the young quarterback would be playing football in Las Vegas right now.

Steelers' Will Howard Landed In A Great Situation

Partnering up with his former offensive coordinator from college would have been great, but it is fair to say that Howard landed in an even better spot. Howard gets to learn from one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, and he also gets to suit up for one of the most iconic franchises in the history of the league. Learning from Rodgers is something that Howard has shown a ton of appreciation for, and it is clear that he has put a focus on soaking up as much knowledge and advice as possible. Now he also gets to play under one of the best head coaches ever when it comes to developing the quarterback position.

Howard should get a chance to compete for a job within the next two seasons, but it is not going to be easy for the young QB.

What do you think about Howard originally wanting to be drafted by the Raiders? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

#SteelerNation