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College coach confirms Browns drafted the wrong QB (and the Steelers got him)

Ryan Heckman
Ryan Heckman

Still Curtain

Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin / Kara Durrette/GettyImages

The Pittsburgh Steelers still don't have a solution under center, and some fans might be crossing over the line from anxious and nervous to downright furious and utterly confused.

While this organization continues to wait at the feet of Aaron Rodgers, the rest of the team has a job to do. For right now, it's Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard manning the ship.

Speaking of Howard, he flew under the radar as a draft prospect and didn't necessarily receive a ton of hype as a future NFL star. But, there is one college coach who recently offered some hope behind the idea that he could make some noise in Pittsburgh.

Some fans might be bummed out that the Cleveland Browns not only got Shedeur Sanders, but took two shots on a quarterback by also snagging Dillon Gabriel. But, if this coach is right, it's the Browns who made the mistake, not the Steelers.

The Steelers could have gotten the draft steal the Browns were hoping for (but whiffed on)

This college coach talked about Howard versus Gabriel, specifically, and it seems the Browns not only reached, but reached big time with that selection:

"I'm not saying either one of them is more talented than Sanders, but Will Howard's a better pro prospect than Gabriel with the size, arm strength, the passing tree that he had to throw at Ohio State."

This is truly right on the money. For fans still upset over the idea that Pittsburgh doesn't have a concrete solution at quarterback, don't discount Howard. He very well could become that late-round gem every team is hoping to land.

Howard stands 6-foot-4 while Gabriel is just 5-foot-11, so the physical comparisons are laughable. Howard's frame is much more pro-ready, no question.

His toughness and ability to rise to the occasion, on bigger stages, are just two reasons why the Browns should have gone with him over Gabriel. Instead, the Steelers were able to steal him in Round 6 (some top experts had Howard as high as the fourth round).

So, while the Browns now have to deal with the drama of five quarterbacks on the roster and the media circus which comes with Shedeur, the Steelers can continue being all about their business even though the starting quarterback doesn't look pretty at the moment.

Howard definitely has a shot to impress and eventually earn the job. It'll take some time. It'll take a lot of work.

But, the potential is absolutely there.

Ryan Heckman

Ryan Heckman

Ryan Heckman is a Lead NFL Editor for FanSided, covering all 32 teams across the league. Ryan has covered various leagues and teams dating back to 2012, with experience covering both the NFL and NBA. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated among other publications. He loves Jesus, family, and the NFL in that order. If he isn't writing, Ryan is spending time with his wife and kids, drinking coffee or lifting weights.