{"id":46100,"date":"2025-05-05T02:23:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T02:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=46100"},"modified":"2025-05-05T02:23:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T02:23:34","slug":"breaking-steelers-reveal-reasoning-behind-drafting-will-howard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=46100","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Steelers Reveal Reasoning Behind Drafting Will Howard.."},"content":{"rendered":"

Will Howard, former\u00a0Ohio State\u00a0quarterback, was selected by the Steelers in the sixth round as the 185th pick. With\u00a0Justin Fields\u00a0having signed with the\u00a0Jets\u00a0in free agency, Howard is now in contention to become Pittsburgh\u2019s next signal-caller. His initiative towards that impressed the Steelers.<\/p>\n

Devin Jackson from The Philadelphia Inquirer\u00a0reported in a story published Wednesday, “In the aftermath of being drafted, Howard has already gotten a jump on his\u00a0NFL preparations.\u00a0On Sunday, Howard reached out to Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth for plays, according to his mother, much to the delight of the Steelers coaching staff.”<\/p>\n

\u201c[Arth] wrote [Will] back and said, \u2018Hey, we were going to give you the weekend off, but this is why we drafted you, because it\u2019s the kind of worker you are,\u2019\u201d Maureen said.<\/p>\n

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Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) throws during the first half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Adam Cairns\/Columbus Dispatch \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Pittsburgh\u2019s quarterback room for 2025 will feature Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and Howard, all competing for depth roles beneath the likely starter. The team\u2019s rookie minicamp runs May 9\u201311, with Howard set to take every rep possible to solidify his grasp of the playbook.<\/p>\n

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