Ex-Steelers QB Seriously Believes Pittsburgh Has Given Will Howard A Quiet Advantage For 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big question mark brewing at arguably the most important position in all of sports. The team still hasn’t figured out who their starting quarterback will be for the 2025 season, as Aaron Rodgers continues to delay his decision. All signs point to Rodgers eventually joining the Steelers, but until he makes his intentions clear, Pittsburgh remains stuck in a state of uncertainty.

With all the questions swirling around the quarterback spot, former Steelers backup Charlie Batch appeared on Kay Adams' show on Wednesday to share his thoughts. Batch believes the entire situation is actually a huge advantage for rookie quarterback Will Howard. While the focus remains on Rodgers, Howard is getting extra reps and valuable time to learn the offense without the pressure of being immediately thrown into the starting role.

Batch pointed out that Howard has a unique opportunity to grow behind the scenes while the Rodgers decision dominates the headlines. If Rodgers ends up coming to Pittsburgh, Howard will have already gained key experience during the offseason. And if Rodgers doesn’t suit up, Batch thinks Howard might be better prepared than anyone expects to step in and lead the team.

"We know the mindset of Arthur Smith," Batch said. "He wants to run the football, and sometimes the quarterback has to pull the ball down on some designed runs that you actually have to use your legs and get the job done. So those are things that are gonna play itself out, but that's kind of down the line."

Batch’s theory stems from what he believes Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith prefers to do with his quarterbacks. Smith has a history of tailoring his offense around a strong run game and simplifying reads for young passers, which plays directly into Howard’s strengths. 

Even though Howard entered Pittsburgh as a sixth-round pick, Batch sees him as a perfect fit for Smith’s system.

"They want to make sure he is learning from the pocket first and then from there allow everything else to kind of materialize," Batch said. "There's not a lot of pressure on Will at this particular point, and that's the one thing that he has an advantage of. Because all he has to do is put his head in the playbook, go out there and get the job done, where everybody else is being talked about."

Right now, Howard is flying under the radar with no real pressure to perform. He’s not expected to start, and all eyes are on Rodgers, which gives the rookie time to absorb the playbook and develop at his own pace. According to Batch, that’s a luxury most young quarterbacks don’t get, especially in a market as demanding as Pittsburgh.

In Batch’s eyes, this is an ideal situation for Howard. He gets to sit back, learn from veterans, and quietly improve without the weight of expectations. If Rodgers joins the team, Howard still benefits from working behind a future Hall of Famer. If not, he might be far more ready than people realize. Either way, Batch believes Howard is in the right place at the right time.

Steelers Might Have Gotten Lucky With Will Howard

While it’s not typical for a sixth-round quarterback to generate the kind of buzz Howard has, in his case, it makes sense. When the spotlight was at its brightest in college, Howard rose to the occasion, leading Ohio State to a National Championship. That kind of big-game pedigree matters, and it’s a trait many pundits are overlooking as they assess his NFL potential.

What also sets Howard apart is who he is as a competitor. He’s incredibly confident in himself and fully committed to learning and improving every day. That mindset, paired with his physical tools, gives him a real shot to develop into something special if the opportunity ever presents itself.

If Howard continues to approach the game the way he has so far, he could be positioning himself for long-term success in Pittsburgh. Whether Rodgers ends up coming or not, Howard’s preparation and mentality could quietly be laying the groundwork for a breakout moment down the line.