Will Howard’s NFL Reality Check: A Championship Resume Meets a Cold Market
Will Howard’s road to the NFL is a reminder of just how narrow the path can be for college quarterbacks trying to make the leap to the pros. On paper, he’s a national champion.
He led Ohio State to a dominant postseason run, capped off by a title. But when the 2026 NFL Draft came around, Howard didn’t hear his name until the Pittsburgh Steelers called at pick No.
- That’s the sixth round - a long way from the spotlight he basked in just a few months prior.
And that’s the thing: in today’s NFL, pedigree alone doesn’t guarantee a real shot.
Howard’s case is a fascinating mix of timing, perception, and circumstance. Despite his recent success, he’s not being seriously discussed as part of Pittsburgh’s long-term quarterback plans. Even with the swirling rumors about Aaron Rodgers potentially leaving the Steelers - a move that would open the door for a new QB era - Howard’s name isn’t coming up in those conversations.
Instead, the buzz is building around Alabama’s Ty Simpson. CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell recently made it clear he sees Simpson - not Howard - as the Steelers’ future under center.
Simpson just wrapped up a season where he threw for over 3,500 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only five interceptions, leading the Crimson Tide to the Rose Bowl. That kind of production, paired with a high ceiling, has him climbing draft boards.
“They’ve got a quarterback in Mason Rudolph who they can kind of use as a bridge,” Kanell said on CBS Sports HQ. “Will Howard was a sixth-round pick last year, but I don’t think he’s the long-term answer.
This is where I think the sweet spot is for Ty Simpson - around 21 in the Draft. Even if they trade back, you kind of take some of the pressure off him, but I do think this is the sweet spot for the Steelers.”
The Steelers are in a strange spot right now. Mike Tomlin is out.
Rodgers is likely on his way out. And for a franchise that’s long been synonymous with stability, the quarterback room is suddenly filled with question marks.
The 2026 quarterback class isn’t exactly bursting with surefire stars, and there aren’t many veteran options lining up to join a team that looks like it’s headed for a reset.
Despite all that, Howard still isn’t in the mix.
That’s what has some analysts calling Pittsburgh’s head coaching vacancy one of the least attractive in the league. CBS Sports’ Leger Douzable pointed to the team’s lack of a succession plan at quarterback as a major red flag.
“I know the allure and pedigree of Pittsburgh,” Douzable said, “but they don’t have a succession plan at quarterback. They pick 20th in the Draft, but they’re most likely not gonna get their quarterback there. Ty Simpson could come into the fold, but are there enough pieces around him for that young quarterback to actually have success?”
It’s a fair question - and one that indirectly underscores why Howard isn’t being viewed as the answer. He had a solid college career, throwing for nearly 5,800 yards and 48 touchdowns over four seasons at Kansas State.
But it wasn’t until he transferred to Ohio State that he truly broke out. His playoff run was electric: 1,150 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and just two picks.
He looked like a different quarterback - confident, efficient, and in control.
But for NFL teams, one hot stretch isn’t always enough to erase years of inconsistency. Howard’s time in Manhattan was marked by flashes of potential, but also by stretches of uneven play. And while his final season was undeniably impressive, it came with the help of a loaded Ohio State roster - including several future pros.
That’s the challenge Howard faces now. He’s got the tools, and he’s shown he can win at the highest level of college football. But in the NFL, where every rep is scrutinized and every opportunity has to be earned, he’s not walking into a situation with guaranteed snaps or a clear path to the top of the depth chart.
For now, Howard is a developmental piece in Pittsburgh - a sixth-round pick with a national title on his résumé but a lot to prove at the next level. The door isn’t closed, but it’s clear he’s going to have to force it open.