Pittsburgh Steelers Add Will Howard to Quarterback Roster Amid Aaron Rodgers Speculation
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a significant move in their quarterback lineup, selecting Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round (185th overall) of the NFL Draft. This addition brings a fresh face to the quarterback room, joining former Kansas State teammate Skylar Thompson and Mason Rudolph. Howard is the first quarterback the Steelers have drafted since they picked Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick and Chris Oladokun in the seventh round back in 2022.
The Steelers have been transparent about their strategy to bring four quarterbacks to training camp. This leaves one spot open as the team eagerly awaits a decision from Aaron Rodgers, who is currently a free agent after being released by the New York Jets earlier this offseason. Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II mentioned on Friday that the team “may get word soon” regarding Rodgers’ decision.
Head coach Mike Tomlin shared his thoughts with NFL Network on Saturday, saying, “That’s certainly a possibility,” when asked about adding Rodgers. He added, “I’m not going to forecast the ifs and whens regarding not only him, but any other potential free agent. We’ve had really productive talks with him, and I’ve enjoyed having productive talks with him and getting to know him.”
Will Howard brings a national championship-winning pedigree to the Steelers, having helped the Buckeyes secure a title in his lone year with the school. His performance during the playoffs was particularly impressive, where he threw for 630 yards, five touchdowns, and completed 74% of his pass attempts. This caught the attention of the Steelers’ management.
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith expressed his excitement, stating, “You see him in the big moments of critical possession downs, even in the national championship game, momentum plays to kind of end the game. Extremely excited to work with Will.”
For the season, Howard completed 73% of his attempts, ranking second only to Shedeur Sanders in completion percentage among FBS quarterbacks in 2024. He also threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, leading the Buckeyes to a 14-2 record.
Howard is the second Ohio State player drafted by the Steelers this year, following the selection of outside linebacker Jack Sawyer in the fourth round. Howard expressed his enthusiasm about reuniting with Sawyer, saying, “Jack and I are about as close as two guys could be. I always said throughout this process — one of these Ohio State guys, I’m going to end up with one of them. And man, I’m so glad that Captain Jack and I are going to Pittsburgh together.”
Throughout his career, including four seasons at Kansas State, Howard passed for 9,795 yards, 83 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions, completing 63.8% of his pass attempts. Rooney mentioned on Steelers Nation Radio that any quarterback added through the draft would likely be a developmental project, a challenge Howard is ready to embrace.
“It’s not a matter of what happens out on the field or if I play right away, it’s about getting better and it’s about learning,” Howard said after being selected. “And whoever is in the room with me, whoever is there competing with us, I just cannot wait to delve into this situation and to really give my all to this team, because that’s how I do things, man. I don’t do things half in, I go all in, and I have every expectation that this next step with the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be amazing for me.”
Although the team didn’t host Howard on a predraft visit, they had a formal interview with him at the NFL scouting combine and shared a dinner the night before his pro day in Columbus. Smith shared his impressions, saying, “When you get to spend time with somebody, you get to learn what they’re about and really how they interact with their teammates, what other people think about ’em at the facility. I came away, all of us did, just extremely impressed with Will.”
- Will Howard joins the Steelers as a promising quarterback prospect.
- The team is still awaiting Aaron Rodgers’ decision.
- Howard’s college performance and championship experience are key highlights.
- Howard reunites with Ohio State teammate Jack Sawyer in Pittsburgh.
Originally Written by: ESPN
