Steelers' potential 2026 NFL Draft plans contradict claims about QB Will Howard

"People get caught up in what round he went in," the coach said of Howard at the league meetings in Phoenix on March 31 (via Noah Strackbein of Steelers on SI). "If I were drafting players last year, he wouldn't have been around in the fifth or sixth round. I valued him higher than that based on Kansas State. And man, I thought he jumped out of the TV set during the college playoffs. What is not to like about the guy? So, I definitely think he's a real prospect as a starting quarterback." 

Perhaps McCarthy forgot that, or he's unsure that Howard is franchise-QB material. 

Howard, who turns 25 on Sept. 24, remains an unknown quantity. He suffered a broken right hand before the start of the 2025 season, which left him unavailable for most of the year. He wouldn't have played much anyway with Rodgers on the roster. 

Howard guided the Buckeyes to a national title during the 2024 season, ranking fourth in the FBS in touchdown passes (35). Despite that, he wasn't considered a blue-chip prospect because he couldn't manipulate defenses with his eyes. 

"Unless he proves he can play chess against NFL defenses, he might not have enough in the toolbox to become more than an average backup," wrote NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.

Once again, Howard — a former three-star recruit — must prove he's flying under the radar. The Steelers say they like him, but not as much as they claim, which may not preclude them from drafting another QB.