Will we see the sixth-round pick start in 2025?
As the offseason rolls on for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so to does the wait on any news regarding Aaron Rodgers. The four-time MVP has been connected to the Steelers for the last two months, but no deal has become official despite Steelers President Art Rooney stating his confidence that Rodgers would be coming to Pittsburgh.
At that time, though, the Steelers brought back Mason Rudolph and drafted Ohio State quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Some in the fanbase would like to see the Steelers just roll with Rudolph and Howard, with many in that sub-group even wanting the sixth-round pick to get a chance to start.
While it is almost certain that Howard won’t be the Week 1 starter, there is a greater than zero chance he makes an appearance before the end of the season. Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report predicts that Howard makes his debut as a Steeler in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns.
“Howard gets his own blurb despite being a sixth-round pick because so much is still up in the air with the Steelers, who still haven’t signed Aaron Rodgers despite signs still pointing to that development,” Gagnon writes. “It’s pretty clear the 29-year-old Rudolph isn’t the future. If the Steelers simply need to tread water for a short span and they remain in contention, he’ll likely be the first guy up. But there’s also a chance he fails, or the team is out of contention and wants to get a feel for Howard before plotting its approach for the 2026 offseason. A lot has to break Howard’s way, but my gut tells me he gets on the field as a starter at some point late in ‘25.”
While it seems likely that Howard will be the No. 3 quarterback behind Rodgers and Rudolph, fans will get to see the former Buckeye in the preseason come August, and he will certainly be one of the most anticipated players fans are excited to see this summer.