As the Pittsburgh Steelers try to solidify their signal-caller for next season, former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard will stay attentive to see if he gets his chance to shine.
But by the day, that future fluctuates. The grim reality is that any slight nod away from Howard deteriorates his case. Being selected as a sixth-round pick may render him an afterthought. ESPN insider Field Yates gave Howard very slim odds to be the face of Pittsburgh going forward.
"I’m mindful of some of the things I’ve heard about Will Howard and how the Steelers like his development. But I also recognize I took him in the sixth round last year," Yates said Feb. 13 on the Rich Eisen Show. "If they loved him that much as a prospect, were they really gonna risk it for five rounds and miss out on him? So I’m not totally sold that they could go into the season with him as their starting quarterback."
Yates joins the Ty Simpson Steelers hype train, lauding the Alabama freshman as Pittsburgh's next investment over Howard behind Aaron Rodgers.
"I do think that more people that I talk to think that Ty Simpson’s probably going to settle in at some point in the first round," Yates said. "That’s partially because of the market he’s in. It’s not a buyer's market for quarterbacks. There are very few available in the free agent market, and in this Draft class, are you sure you’re gonna have an answer if you just continue to wait? Probably not."
Howard spent four seasons at Kansas State, not really making any noise as a pro-level prospect. That changed in his final collegiate season, when he transferred to Ohio State and had a historic championship run that propelled him onto everyone's Draft boards.
Still, one year of success is hard to completely overshadow four relatively average ones prior. Whether it was the university or his production, Howard didn't have the statistics, accolades, or impact to even be in Draft conversations. The Steelers selected him as a possible backup competitor behind Rodgers, but his shelf life in the NFL seemingly shrinks with every given quarterback prediction.
Regardless, Howard is getting a ton of hype from star-level players, including Maxx Crosby and Ben Roethlisberger. Plus, with Rodgers likely out after 2026.
"Even if Aaron Rodgers does return, if I'm the Steelers, I do think it’s responsible to be looking at life after Aaron," Yates said. "He’s 42. Even if he does return, are you certain you’re gonna have this guy for the long term? Are you certainly gonna make it through an entire season? That’s just the reality of dealing with a quarterback in his early 40s."