Going from a late-round draft pick to a franchise quarterback is a rare occurrence. Tom Brady is one of the few true exceptions, but the Pittsburgh Steelers hope they may have uncovered a diamond in the rough with Will Howard. Their sixth-round selection from last year could be the heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers.
While the Steelers believe Rodgers will return in 2026, head coach Mike McCarthy believes the future of the position beyond that may already be in place.
During his recent media availability at the annual NFL league meetings, McCarthy continued to express his excitement about Howard as a potential long-term option for the franchise. Going from a sixth-round pick to a starting quarterback may seem too good to be true, but McCarthy believes draft position is irrelevant.
If a player has talent, that talent will shine through.
"People get caught up on what round he went in, but if I was drafting players that year, he wouldn’t be around in the sixth round," McCarthy said, via Nick Farabaugh.
The plan appears to be for Rodgers to return as the starter for the upcoming campaign, with Howard serving as his backup. Even so, the club has expressed interest in several quarterbacks in the upcoming draft, making it likely they will address the position in the middle rounds.
Regardless of how the rest of the offseason unfolds, Howard could eventually emerge as the team’s starter.
Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike McCarthy continues his ongoing praise of Will Howard
Much of the attention has centered on the ongoing conversations between McCarthy and Rodgers regarding the quarterback’s potential return, but McCarthy’s praise of Howard should not be overlooked. Both Rodgers and McCarthy have spoken highly of the young gunslinger’s abilities. This upcoming season will be a pivotal one for the second‑year quarterback out of Ohio State.
One thing is certain: McCarthy believes he may have something special in Howard.
The Steelers head coach praised the practice tape Howard put together during his rookie season and has consistently created a positive narrative around the young quarterback. Howard won a National Championship at Ohio State and elevated his play when it mattered most. McCarthy pointed to that ability to rise to the occasion as a trait that could eventually make him a starting quarterback.
"I just thought he just jumped out of the TV set during the CFP." McCarthy continued, "He’s a real prospect as a starting QB.”
The hype surrounding Howard is at a high right now, and the hope is that McCarthy can develop the young player into a franchise-caliber option moving forward. Despite being a late-round pick a year ago and getting no snaps during the regular season, Howard continues to get heaps of praise. Both his mentor and new head coach are steering that train, and fans are eating it up.
At the end of the day, all of this should be taken with a grain of salt.
Ideally, Howard would develop into a reliable starting quarterback who could take over once Rodgers retires, but there are no guarantees. The Steelers have shown significant pre‑draft interest in several quarterbacks, making it likely they will select one. Howard will have an opportunity to become the starter in Pittsburgh, but he will have to earn it.