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Brooke Pryor
PITTSBURGH — Yet another quarterback down. One to go?
The Pittsburgh Steelers lastly added to the quarterback room by choosing Ohio State’s Will Howard within the sixth spherical (185th general), becoming a member of him able group with former Kansas State teammate Skylar Thompson and Mason Rudolph. Howard is the primary quarterback chosen by the Steelers for the reason that crew drafted Kenny Pickett with the twentieth general choose and Chris Oladokun within the seventh spherical in 2022.
The Steelers have been clear that they plan on taking 4 quarterbacks to coaching camp, that means there’s one spot remaining because the crew awaits Aaron Rodgers‘ extended choice. Steelers proprietor and president Artwork Rooney II mentioned Friday the crew “could get phrase quickly” on Rodgers, who’s a free agent for the primary time after being launched by the New York Jets earlier this offseason.
“That is definitely a risk,” coach Mike Tomlin informed NFL Community on Saturday of including Rodgers. “I am not going to forecast the ifs and whens concerning not solely him, however another potential free agent. We have had actually productive talks with him, and I’ve loved having productive talks with him and attending to know him.”
In Howard, the Steelers landed a quarterback with nationwide championship-winning pedigree after he helped the Buckeyes to a title in his lone yr with the college. That have — and his elevated play through the playoffs the place he threw for 630 yards, 5 touchdowns and accomplished 74% of his go makes an attempt — impressed the Steelers brass.
“You see him within the large moments of essential possession downs, even within the nationwide championship recreation, momentum performs to sort of finish the sport,” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith mentioned. “Extraordinarily excited to work with Will.”
For the season, Howard accomplished 73% of his makes an attempt, second to solely Shedeur Sanders in completion proportion amongst FBS quarterbacks in 2024. He additionally threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as he helped the Buckeyes go 14-2.
Howard can be the second Ohio State participant drafted by the Steelers this yr after the crew took outdoors linebacker Jack Sawyer within the fourth spherical.
“Jack and I are about as shut as two guys may very well be,” Howard mentioned. “I all the time mentioned all through this course of — certainly one of these Ohio State guys, I’ll find yourself with certainly one of them. And man, I am so glad that Captain Jack and I are going to Pittsburgh collectively.”
In his profession, together with 4 seasons at Kansas State, Howard handed for 9,795 yards, 83 touchdowns and 35 interceptions and accomplished 63.8% of his go makes an attempt.
Rooney informed Steelers Nation Radio on Friday that any quarterback added to the roster by means of the draft would possible be a developmental challenge. That is a problem Howard mentioned he is embracing.
“It isn’t a matter of what occurs out on the sphere or if I play immediately, it is about getting higher and it is about studying,” Howard mentioned after being chosen. “And whoever is within the room with me, whoever is there competing with us, I simply can’t wait to delve into this example and to actually give my all to this crew, as a result of that is how I do issues, man. I do not do issues half in, I’m going all in, and I’ve each expectation that this subsequent step with the Pittsburgh Steelers goes to be superb for me.”
Although the crew did not host Howard on a predraft go to, the Steelers had a proper interview with Howard on the NFL scouting mix and had dinner with him the evening earlier than his professional day in Columbus.
“While you get to spend time with any individual, you get to study what they’re about and actually how they work together with their teammates, what different individuals take into consideration ’em on the facility,” Smith mentioned of what he realized of Howard. “I got here away, all of us did, simply extraordinarily impressed with Will.”
