Steelers Catch A Promising Sign Emerging In QB Will Howard's Development

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation continues to draw plenty of headlines and attention. As Aaron Rodgers continues to delay his decision, all eyes remain on the three quarterbacks already on the roster. It is still believed that Rodgers was in Pittsburgh recently, and May 18th is a date to watch when it comes to all things Rodgers, but football fans know how difficult he is to predict. Either way, the Steelers selected Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He now pairs with the sixth-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, Will Howard, along with veteran backup Mason Rudolph.

If Rodgers does ultimately sign, he would obviously take over the starting role. If he does not, things could get very interesting very quickly. Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy may be forced into a youth movement at quarterback. Either way, McCarthy will be tasked with developing both Howard and Allar, and he has the track record to suggest he can do it, but now he will be doing so in a new environment in Pittsburgh at age 62.

Naturally, all of the Steelers quarterbacks have remained popular talking points, but Howard continues to generate more hype than a typical sixth-round selection. McCarthy has been open in saying he likes Howard, but it is also known he had a strong hand in selecting Allar, which has led some fans to question how he truly views Howard’s long-term future. The host of Sunday’s No. 1 Cochran Sports Show on KDKA, Rich Walsh, even shared a detail he personally witnessed that he believes is a telling and promising sign for Howard’s development.

"Will Howard is out there 45 minutes after everyone else," Walsh said. "He might be the hardest worker on the team."

On an NFL roster, it is no secret that every player works extremely hard, but Walsh is making a major claim, saying Howard might be among the hardest workers on the entire team. That is a significant statement when you consider the talent in that locker room, including players like TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, DK Metcalf, and countless other established stars across the team. It is a telling detail, but it is also exactly what you would expect from a sixth-round draft pick trying to take advantage of an uncertain quarterback room and earn every possible edge.

Howard has both an advantage and a disadvantage in this situation. On one hand, he was drafted a year ahead of Allar, giving him a head start in terms of experience in the system and practice reps. However, he was not selected by this current regime. Howard was originally picked by Mike Tomlin, who stepped away after the 2025 season.

Steelers' QB Situation Remains Firmly In The Headlines

McCarthy, on the other hand, drafted Allar himself and did so significantly higher in terms of draft value, signaling a larger investment in him from the current staff. That naturally places Allar in a different tier of organizational priority.

Howard, despite having a year to learn and develop, now finds himself fighting an uphill battle. It is one he appears to be embracing, as he continues working to prove he belongs as a starter in the Steel City. With two young and intriguing quarterback options, plus ongoing noise surrounding a potential Rodgers return for the 2026 season, the Steelers quarterback situation remains firmly in the headlines.

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