Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard was feeling good during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft when he was speaking with Cam Heyward on his podcast and with some of his teammates on the Not Just Football Podcast. However, the following day, the Steelers would draft immediate competition for the young quarterback when they selected the Penn State product, Drew Allar, 76th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Howard, being drafted by a different regime and in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, immediately puts question marks about who is sitting in pole position in this quarterback debate. On top of that, the veteran Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t decided if he is going to play for the Steelers in the 2026 season.
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Steelers' Will Howard runs through a drill at voluntary veteran minicamp in 2026.
Should Rodgers come back and play, he would obviously be the starter, with the potential to mentor both Allar and Howard as the younger quarterbacks continue to develop. The idea of having two young quarterbacks with low-risk profiles but high ceilings is an exciting thought for the future of the franchise. Still, it also raises a difficult roster and development question for Pittsburgh about how reps and opportunity will actually be divided once the season begins.
Former Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch joined 93.7 The Fan on Thursday to explain why that kind of setup is not as ideal as it sounds. Batch pointed out that the current structure of the NFL offseason makes it extremely difficult to properly develop multiple young quarterbacks at the same time. In his view, that reality could create a situation where one quarterback inevitably falls behind, and given the draft investment, that could quietly put Howard in the more vulnerable position.
"I mean they would have to be lights out, but unfortunately the way this collective bargaining agreement is, it is impossible to get two young quarterbacks ready," Batch said while speaking via 93.7 The Fan on Thursday. "I rarely use impossible, but it is impossible in this particular situation. Why? Because the way that this offseason program is, it really hinders your development. When you listen to the sound bite of Mike McCarthy... what does he say the challenges are? The CBA. That’s a challenge because you can’t force those guys to be in here before April, and then there’s a limited amount of organized team activities along with that minicamp. These guys are out of here the second week of June. When you get to training camp there are no two-a-days, there is only one-a-day."
Batch explained that this is not necessarily about talent, but about investment and draft position. In his view, when you consider the Steelers selecting Allar and the fact that Mike McCarthy personally handpicked him, it is fair to assume Allar will be given a clear path and consistent opportunity to develop.
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Steelers quarterback Drew Allar walks out on stage during the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
With Mason Rudolph in place as the veteran backup, the structure of the room already starts to take shape.
"You have to focus on whoever gives you the best chance now, focus that attention on them, and then everyone else just gets left behind."
Steelers' Howard Now Must Fight Extra Hard To Prove Himself
Batch’s argument centers on how NFL teams naturally prioritize development based on draft capital and organizational commitment. A third-round pick like Allar is typically going to receive more patience, more reps, and a longer runway than others in the room.
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Steelers QB Will Howard during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
While he did not name Howard directly, Batch suggested one of the young quarterbacks could be left in a tougher position. In that context, Howard would appear to be the one facing the steeper climb compared to a higher-drafted quarterback chosen by McCarthy himself. Now all of a sudden, Howard may be treated more like a sixth-round pick after all. Though it's not about where he starts but how he competes in the offseason that will truly determine his future.
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