The Pittsburgh Steelers turned heads during the 2025 NFL draft for passing on Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders several times. After Sanders was finally scooped up by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round on Saturday, the Steelers made their quarterback move in the sixth round.
The 2025 offseason for the Steelers has been dominated by a big question mark at the quarterback position. The team has been heavily linked to Aaron Rodgers in free agency, and while he has to make a decision on his playing future, the team continues to insist that he will eventually sign with them.
“We’re still kind of getting the same signals that we’ve been getting recently,” team owner Art Rooney II told Steelers Nation Radio on Friday night. “He does want to come here, so I do think we may get word soon.”
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders
© Michael Ciaglo-Imagn Images
The assumption was that the Steelers would eventually pick Sanders as he continued to slide, but that never happened. Instead, they made their move for a quarterback in the sixth round, selecting Ohio State Buckeyes passer Will Howard with the No. 185 pick.
“The Steelers are selecting Ohio State QB Will Howard,” Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports shared in a post on X.
After four seasons with the Kansas State Wildcats, Howard transferred to Ohio State and led them to a National Championship in 2024. Howard threw for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns, both of which led the Big Ten, while also rushing for 226 yards and seven more scores.
While Rodgers could eventually sign with Pittsburgh, as of right now, Howard joins a quarterback depth chart that only features Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. As a result, Howard could be competing for playing time on the Steelers right from the get-go.
