2025-05-02 19:41:05

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the most intriguing quarterback rooms in the entire National Football League. The Black and Gold entered the 2025 NFL Draft with only Skylar Thompson and Mason Rudolph on the roster and under contract for the upcoming season, which presumably guaranteed that they'd go ahead and select a quarterback in the draft. As Pittsburgh passed on Shedeur Sanders through the first five rounds and watched him get selected by one of their biggest rivals in the Cleveland Browns, they chose to take a flyer on Will Howard in the sixth round. With NFL teams getting ready for rookie training camp and Organized Team Activities, teams like the Steelers with unique quarterback circumstances must start shaping things out. Because Aaron Rodgers hasn't made a decision or signed with the Steelers yet, there's no promising that the former four-time NFL MVP will be coming to the Steel City this year. While the Steelers likely remain as Rodgers' only viable option, he could shock the fan base and enter retirement. Regardless of who will be lining up under center for the Steelers this season, whether that's Rodgers or Rudolph, the organization will begin the developmental process with Howard. Not many are expecting Pittsburgh's 185th overall draft choice to elevate into the team's starting role this season. One also has to question what caused Howard to fall to the Steelers so late in the draft. Howard was projected as a late Day 2 or early Day 3 draft pick, but taking a drop in the draft may have been the best outcome for him as he becomes a Steeler. Two days after the final rounds of the draft, a former defender for the Steelers shared his input on Howard. Breiden Fehoko, who was a member of the Steelers' defensive line for the last two seasons, detailed how Howard's collegiate career shaped the outcome of the draft this year. "I think taking Will Howard was really great value. I'm a fan of Will Howard. I think he showed a lot this year," Fehoko said after the weekend of the draft. "I think the reason he didn't go as high as everybody thought, was I think because of his early film at Kansas State." Before transferring to Ohio State for his senior year in 2024, Howard spent the first four years of his college days with Kansas State. Howard was redshirted his freshman year, which gave him his fifth year with the Buckeyes. "He was a little inconsistent at times. And I feel like everybody saw him this year, Ohio State, Will Howard, I don't think that was a big enough body of work to go ahead and select him in the third or fourth round, whereas Pittsburgh had those earlier picks," Fehoko explained. In Howard's final season with Ohio State, he threw for over 4,000 yards, 35 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a completion percentage of 73%. In his time with the Wildcats, Howard passed for 48 touchdowns, 25 interceptions, and had an average completion percentage of 57.3%. Howard really didn't start getting his feet wet until his second and third seasons. The Steelers could have found a hidden gem in Howard, but many fans in the Steel City are hoping wishfully. Regardless of the way Howard's rookie season pans out in Pittsburgh, the Steelers will very likely be adding another rookie to the quarterback room in next year's draft. Steelers' New Ohio State Additions Could Lead The Future On Both Sides Of The Field Along with Howard, the Steelers took edge rusher Jack Sawyer from Ohio State in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. With his talent level, Sawyer was never supposed to make it to the third day of the draft. While Pittsburgh already has an elite group of pass rushers, Sawyer could turn into Pittsburgh's top guy in the matter of a few seasons. Sawyer, who turns only 23 years old this offseason, could very well be the future on the outside of the defensive line depending on the futures of TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig. It may be a longshot, but it's possible the Steelers found two stars from Ohio State on both sides of the ball. Why do you think Howard slipped in the draft?