Steelers QB’s Comments on Shedeur Sanders Draw Attention

Will Howard, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie quarterback, has openly discussed how Shedeur Sanders’ surprising fall during the 2025 NFL Draft created a chain reaction that affected the entire group of incoming signal-callers.

According to Howard, the dramatic slide pushed several other quarterbacks, including himself, further down the board than many had anticipated. This unexpected development appeared to make teams hesitant to invest early picks in the position once the top prospects began to linger.

Sanders entered the draft with strong expectations of being chosen in the first round. Instead, he remained available much longer than projected, eventually being selected by the Cleveland Browns at the 144th overall pick in the fifth round after a trade-up. Many analysts described this as one of the most notable drops for a quarterback in recent memory, and it seemed to put the entire quarterback market on pause for an extended period.

During an appearance on The Christian Kuntz Podcast, Howard reflected on his own draft experience and directly linked it to Sanders’ situation. He had been optimistic about hearing his name called earlier than he ultimately did.

Howard specifically credited the uncertainty surrounding Sanders as a major factor that influenced team decisions across the board.

“I thought there was a chance that I was going to go Friday,” Howard said. “I was hearing that. I remember talking with some of the guys from the Steelers, and it was really that whole Shedeur situation that his sliding really hurt a lot of the other quarterbacks in our class. Just because he was ranked a little bit higher, so nobody wanted to take guys like me, or Riley Leonard, or Kyle McCord, Quinn Ewers. We were all like, late, late picks.”

The early portion of the draft saw only a handful of quarterbacks come off the board in the first two days. High selections included Cam Ward going first overall to the Tennessee Titans and Jaxson Dart being picked at No. 25. Even Dillon Gabriel, projected as a backup option, found a home relatively early with the Browns. Beyond those choices, however, teams grew cautious, and the position experienced a noticeable slowdown.

That bottleneck finally eased once Sanders was drafted in the fifth round. In quick succession, several quarterbacks followed, with Kyle McCord, Will Howard, and Riley Leonard all being selected within a tight window of just 10 picks during the sixth round. This late surge confirmed the ripple effect that many observers had suspected was at play throughout the later stages of the draft.

Howard ultimately landed with the Steelers at the 185th overall selection in the sixth round. His college career at Ohio State was marked by impressive production, as he led the Big Ten conference in completion percentage, passing yards, and touchdown passes in his final season. Those efforts helped guide the Buckeyes to a national championship, showcasing the kind of leadership and efficiency that made him an intriguing prospect despite his later draft position.

Now, Howard faces the challenge of earning a spot on the Steelers’ roster in what has become a highly competitive quarterback room. He will battle alongside veteran Mason Rudolph, newly drafted Drew Allar, and possibly veteran Aaron Rodgers, who is 42 years old. Should Rodgers decide to return, Allar — selected in the third round — is widely viewed as a strong candidate to secure one of the roster spots, potentially setting up a direct competition between Howard and Rudolph for the remaining opportunity.

On the other side of the draft drama, Sanders had a mixed rookie campaign with the Browns, starting seven games and posting a 3-4 record. He accumulated 1,400 passing yards, along with seven touchdowns and 12 interceptions. As he prepares for his second season, Sanders is focused on solidifying his place as the team’s starter amid ongoing questions about the depth chart.

The quarterback competition in Cleveland remains fluid under new head coach Todd Monken, who has described the situation as an open battle between Sanders and Deshaun Watson. Recent reports from minicamp, according to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, suggest that Watson has gained an early advantage and currently holds the inside track for the Week 1 starting role.

The team also carries additional depth with Dillon Gabriel still on the roster and sixth-round pick Taylen Green added to the mix, though neither is expected to contend seriously for the starting job in the immediate future.

Overall, Howard’s comments shed light on the unpredictable nature of the draft process and how one high-profile slide can influence outcomes for an entire class of players.

As training camp approaches, both Howard in Pittsburgh and Sanders in Cleveland will be working to prove their value and move past the uncertainties that defined their respective draft journeys.