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Former NFL quarterback presents what he believes to be cold, hard facts on why Steelers QB Will Howard is being overhyped

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Rob Gregson | Last updated May 13, 2025 6:45 PM ET

Will Howard was a steal for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Whenever you select someone of his quality and pedigree in the second-to-last round of the NFL Draft, it's easy to see the value there.

But some have wondered why Will Howard lasted that long to begin with. Chris Simms isn't one of them...

Chris Simms is not buying the Will Howard hype

"How many times did I have people on my Instagram or Twitter looking at it going, 'Why isn't Will Howard being talked about as a first-round or a second-round quarterback," Simms asked on his podcast, Chris Simms Unbuttoned . "I don't know, because his arm is below average, because he's not incredibly accurate, and he's not the greatest athlete in the world. Other than that, he should be the first pick of the draft. I'm not trying to get on Will Howard, but it's just the expectations.”

Whenever you have the character, work ethic, and pedigree that Will Howard has him falling to the sixth round is going to be a story. You're talking about a player who led one of the most storied programs in college football to a national championship. And there is some validity to what Simms is saying. Howard doesn't have the tangible traits of a first-rounder, and he did play with some of, if not the best, surroundings in college football.

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But this is a player who is coming in with a massive chip on his shoulder. A player who has been undervalued in his mind at every stop of his football journey. A player who has shown the ability to overcome football adversity in every situation.

No one is saying Howard should have been atop the list of QBs in the draft. But in a bad class, and with his intangibles, Steelers fans should be hyped about getting a player of his quality so late in the draft. It's a game of value in the NFL, and the Steelers, for all their flaws, tend to hit on value in the NFL Draft.