Howard is the dreaming solution to QB in Pittsburgh
by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published February 11, 2026, 10:19 AM
The Steelers enter this offseason with a few apparent options at quarterback, but in reality, or at least the reality I live in there’s nothing on the current roster that screams future franchise quarterback.
New head coach Mike McCarthy, during his opening press conference, said, “Definitely, I don’t see why you wouldn’t,” when asked about Aaron Rodgers the four-time league MVP returning for his 22nd NFL season. That’s like serving dinner guests, leftovers.
Steelers fans are starving for the next iconic quarterback to take the reins of the franchise.
Then there’s the Mason Rudolph bubble, which has finally burst. Can we move past him as “the guy”? Deep down, I know some fans still hope he’s the ticket to the next dynasty, but it’s time to face reality.
Which brings us to Will Howard.
The “chosen one,” the greatest prospect to never throw an NFL pass. I say that with all the sarcasm it deserves, because the allegiance of the fan base is genuinely astonishing.
I do believe that geography has helped propel Howard in the Steelers Hall of Honor, without taking a single snap in the NFL.
Columbus, Ohio, is just a three-hour drive from Pittsburgh, and the area is absolutely saturated with Buckeyes fans. That means a huge chunk of Ohio and western Pennsylvania watched Howard lead Ohio State to a national title in a single season. So, why wouldn’t some of them believe he’s the next messiah for the Steelers?
The hype practically writes itself.
I have no other way to put it, expect to sound as unhinged as the those who believe that no other quarterback should occupy the position in 2026 in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh’s sixth-round selection out of Ohio State in the 2025 NFL Draft, Howard comes with a resume that immediately grabs attention a National Championship with the Buckeyes just months before the draft.
For fans, that championship pedigree has been enough to ignite lofty expectations. Add the mystique of a sixth-round “steal,” and suddenly Howard becomes the chosen one in the eyes of many.
Howard broke a bone in his throwing hand during training camp last summer. As a result, he hasn’t thrown a pass in either the preseason or regular season and spent time on injured reserve.
Yet the combination of his Ohio State championship and draft status has created a nearly mythic aura around him. For many Steelers fans, Howard is the magical selection that slipped under the radar, the next unicorn QB that nobody saw coming.
To put things in perspective, prior to Howard going 185th overall, 184 picks had come before him. Looking at college National Championship quarterbacks since 2005: eleven were drafted in the first round, one in the second, three in the fourth, one in the fifth, and one in the sixth and yes, Howard. Four others went undrafted.
Why is Howard the exception?
NFL Draft – Round (Pick/Team)
2025 – Indiana -Fernando Mendoza, (Projected No. 1 Pick in 2026)
2024 – Ohio State, Will Howard, 6th round
2023 – Michigan – J. J. McCarthy, 1st round
2022 – Georgia – Stetson Bnnett, 4th round
2021 -Georgia -Stetson Bennet, 4th round
2020 – Alabama – Mac Jones, 1st round
2019 – LSU – Joe Burrow, 1st Overall
2018 – Clemson -Trevor Lawrence, 1st Overall
2017- Alabama – Jalen Hurts + Tua Tagovailoa* Hurts 2nd round, Tagovailoa 1st round
2016 – Clemson – Deshaun Watson, 1st round
2015 – Alabama – Jake Coker, Undrafted
2014 – Ohio State – Cardale Jones, 4th round
2013 – Florida State – Jameis Winston, 1st Overall
2012 – Alabama – A. J. McCarron, 5th round
2011 = Alabama – A. J. McCarron, 5th round
2010 – Auburn – Cam Newton, 1st Overall
2009 – Alabama – Greg McElroy, Undrafted
2008 – Florida – Tim Tebow 1st round
2007 – LSU, Matt Flynn, Undrafted
2006 -Florida – Chris Leak, Undrafted
2005 – Texas – Vince Young, 1st Round
The non-first round picks on that list above, supports nothing that the Steelers fan base is currently promoting about Howard.
Why is he the exception?
Late-round picks like Howard are usually developmental players, the kind of talent NFL scouts hope can grow into contributors. A sixth rounder might have an exciting trait like arm talent, size, speed but also comes with question marks. It could be injuries, mechanics, or production gaps.
The realistic expectation?
Spend a year or two learning, contribute in a backup role, and maybe, just maybe, become a starter. Tom Brady and Brock Purdy are the extreme examples, rare unicorns aligning all the stars.
I say all of this because I’ve spent the last 20 years talking to the most obscure prospects heading to the NFL Draft. From small schools to top-flight collegiate programs. My NFL Draft Blast podcast was built on digging into late-round picks and under-the-radar talent.
When Pittsburgh drafted Chris Oladokun in the seventh round in 2022, I knew who he was because he was on the podcast. I was as shocked as everyone else when his name was called. I’ve worked CFL scouting, college all-star games, and seen every corner of this draft world. I root for these players.
I love the stories.
That said, let’s remember the Steelers’ history with drafted quarterbacks since Terry Bradshaw went first overall in 1970. They’ve taken 24 QBs since Bradshaw, including notable mid- and late-round picks:
1970 – Terry Bradshaw, 1st overall
1974 – Frank Kolch, 13th Round
1976 – Mike Kruczek, 2nd Round
1977 – Cliff Stoudt, 5th Round
1980 – Mark Malone, 1st Round
1981 – Rick Trocano, 11th Round
1984 – Scott Campbell, 7th Round
1986 – Bubby Brister, 3rd Round
1990 – Neil O’Donnell, 3rd Round
1992 – Cornelius Benton, 12th Round
1993 – Alex Van Pelt, 8th Round
1994 – Jim Miller, 6th Round
1995 – Kordell Stewart, 2nd Round
1996 – Spencer Fischer, 6th Round
2000 – Tee Martin, 5th Round
2003 – Brian St. Pierre, 5th Round
2004 – Ben Roethlisberger, 1st Round
2006 – Omar Jacobs, 5th Round
2008 – Dennis Dixon, 5th Round
2013 – Landry Jones, 4th Round
2017 – Joshua Dobbs, 4th Round
2018 – Mason Rudolph, 3rd Round
2022 – Kenny Pickett, 1st Round
2022 – Chris Oladokum, 7th Round
2025 – Will Howard, 6th Round
I’ll ask again, among all those names above – Why is Howard the exceptoin?
Jim Miller, sixth round, went on to play six NFL seasons, throwing for 6,387 yards with 36 touchdowns. His Cinderella year in Chicago in 2001, when the Bears went 11-2, contributing to his 15-12 overall record during in the league.
One could argue that his career was exceptionally good, as a quarterback coming out of round six in the NFL Draft. And now Howard, sixth round in 2025, joining a long line of Steelers QBs drafted with hope and potential.
For many fans, Howard is sacred already. Questioning him feels almost heretical. How dare I suggest he might not immediately be “The Man”?
But the truth is, the odds are long. The expectations are sky-high. Steelers fans should approach it with excitement, yes, but tempered with realism.
I hope Howard becomes the next late-round unicorn, the rare quarterback who defies the odds and lights up the NFL. I want that for him and for the Steelers.
But tempered with realism.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
