How rookie QB Will Howard has impressed Steelers coaches

The Pittsburgh Steelers clearly hope that rookie Will Howard having future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers as a mentor will help the 2025 sixth-round draft pick become a quarterback capable of winning regular-season games as soon as next year. 

During an appearance on the "Breakfast With Benz" podcast, Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth revealed how Howard has impressed members of the staff this summer.

"He's a very smart player, a very confident player, and he relates to his teammates well," Arth said about Howard, as shared by Jeremy Pike of Steelers Depot. "The moment's never too big for him. He has the ability to just step in and be himself and go out there and execute. What I love about Will is he plays the game so well from the pocket. He sees it, he's so comfortable in the pocket, moves really well in the pocket here. He's a very accurate passer."

Numerous stories leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft linked Pittsburgh with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Some analysts then criticized the Steelers for passing on Sanders multiple times before the Cleveland Browns took him with overall pick No. 144.

Ideally, Howard will learn about life in the NFL while spending a red-shirt rookie season beneath Rodgers and longtime backup Mason Rudolph on the depth chart. That said, Arth sounds confident that Howard could impress onlookers when Pittsburgh opens the preseason with a matchup at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 9. 

"We're excited about the future that he has," Arth added about Howard. "...We're very pleased with the development that we've seen thus far." 

Rodgers has vowed to help Howard "become a better player this year" before the 41-year-old likely rides off into the sunset of retirement. Howard has spent portions of the summer picking Rodgers' brain as the veteran prepares to start Pittsburgh's Week 1 game at the New York Jets on Sept. 7.

"I've been impressed with Will," Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said during a Monday interview on Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 The Fan, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "...He's very mature from the neck up. He's as good as any young guy in terms of recall, huddle command. He's still a rookie. They all have to adjust to the speed, but Will's done a nice job."

One wonders if the Steelers will give Howard a legitimate opportunity to win the QB2 job over Rudolph if the 23-year-old produces some highlight-reel moments at Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium on Saturday.