Steelers Rookie Will Howard Was Very Direct About His Relationship With Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a mix of characters in their quarterback room for the 2025 season. They used a sixth-round pick to draft rookie Will Howard. Because of his draft stock, he is seen as a longshot to be a future starter, but he can still develop into a capable passer. On the other end of the spectrum is 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who may likely be playing in his final season in the NFL before hanging up the cleats for good. 

Howard made an appearance on Chipped Ham and Football to speak about his experiences so far through his first NFL offseason. He spoke about the relationship he quickly developed with the other quarterbacks in the room, especially Rodgers.

"I got a really good feeling about [Rodgers] and about this whole QB room," Howard explained. "We already in this past week meshed really well, hit it off. I think we got a really good vibe, good group, and Aaron's been so willing to help me. He's like 'Literally, as much or as little as you want me to help you, I'll be there.' He's already giving me tips, little things here and there. In the meeting room, on the field, in my drops, different little things."

Rodgers' ability to be a good teammate has been questioned after he had some rough times with both of his former teams, but so far in Pittsburgh, he looks like the best mentor and friend that any player could ask for. Getting mechanical and mental tips from a future Hall of Famer can only help Howard out and give him a better chance to reach his ceiling at the NFL level. 

Howard mentioned that he wants as much help as Rodgers can give. So far, the veteran has been giving the rookie lots of information, and there will be a lot more coming his way when training camp rolls around. Both quarterbacks have previously spoken about their relationship after mandatory minicamp, and hopefully it only grows stronger as the year progresses. 

There is still no certainty on how high Howard's ceiling really is. Maybe he has the potential to be a quality starting quarterback with a capable running game surrounding him. Maybe he can be a journeyman backup that can hold his own in the pocket whenever he's needed. Either way, having that leadership around him in his rookie year will only help matters, as opposed to hurt. 

Steelers May Be Forced To Give Howard A Shot In The Future

Of course, Howard will most likely not see a single regular season snap in his rookie year. However, 2026 is a different story. Rodgers will likely be gone, and while the Steelers may reportedly want to draft a first-round quarterback, that is easier said done. The most likely scenario is that they end up picking in the late teens or early 20s once again, which means a move to the top of the draft to get their guy will be very expensive. 

On top of that, the projected #1 overall pick in 2026 is expected to stay in college for another year and pass on that draft. That's one less top prospect on the board as the Steelers won't be the only quarterback-needy team looking for a franchise savior. While that's their likely plan, there is a realistic scenario where that doesn't work out in their favor. 

On top of that, the 2026 free agency class is projected to be even weaker than 2025's. A very plausible scenario is that Howard, Mason Rudolph, and another rookie passer have a quarterback competition then. Howard could use everything he learned from Rodgers to boost himself in the competition and earn the ability to start at some point in time that year. However, there is still a whole season to be played before that happens.