During the 2026 NFL Draft process, NFL insider Mike Florio theorized that all the glowing reviews for quarterback Will Howard might be a draft smokescreen. That appeared to be at least partially the case, as the Steelers grabbed Penn State signal-caller Drew Allar during the third round of this year’s draft.
However, even with Allar securely on the roster, first-year Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy still appeared to go out of his way to heap praise on Howard.
“I was very impressed with Will [Howard] last week,” said McCarthy to reporters Saturday after the 2026 NFL Draft. “I know he’s a good athlete…
“I’m excited about both [Howard and Mason Rudolph].”
To begin Pittsburgh’s offseason workouts, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero called Howard the QB1. The team also had Mason Rudolph on its roster to begin the workouts.
Allar, though, will now enter the mix as a much earlier draft pick. The Steelers selected Allar at No. 76 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The team picked Howard at No. 185 overall in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. That selection came last year when Mike Tomlin was still head coach.
What Do the Steelers Really Think of Will Howard?
It was fair to claim after Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft that the Steelers at least exaggerated their feelings on the 2025 sixth-round quarterback.
McCarthy, along with general manager Omar Khan and team president Art Rooney II, spoke glowingly multiple times about Howard’s potential this offseason. But if the organization really felt that way about the former Ohio State quarterback, it’s hard to justify the Allar selection.
The Steelers are still pursuing veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers as well. With Rodgers and Allar in the fold, it’s possible Howard is even the odd-man out in terms of a roster spot in Pittsburgh.
But McCarthy’s initial comments after the draft should give the second-year signal-caller some reassurance. The better he performs at offseason workouts, especially before the team re-signs Rodgers (assuming that happens), the better his standing with the organization will be.
Drew Allar to Compete With Howard in Offseason Workouts
Despite what McCarthy said, some pundits are still going to view Allar as a potential replacement for Howard. The Steelers grabbed the Penn State quarterback more than 100 picks before Howard last year.
But the team doesn’t appear to really see it as Allar or Howard. Yes, the two young signal-callers will compete during offseason workouts, but Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth stressed the organization has both to develop.
Arth also emphasized that the competition will make each of them better rather than decide which one of them gets to stay on the roster.
“I think it’ll bring out their best. There are two ultra competitive individuals,” said Arth on Saturday night after the third round. “They certainly wouldn’t be where they are in their careers if they weren’t.
“That type of competition, typically brings out the best in people, and I know that it will for both of them.”
Arth explained to reporters that during the draft process, he asked Allar about potentially competing with Howard. Arth said that Allar was excited about the possible opportunity.
Howard and Allar each played college football at big-time Big Ten schools. Howard spent just one year in the conference, though, so the two quarterbacks squared off only once in college.
In November 2024, Howard led the Buckeyes to a 20-13 victory over Allar and the Nittany Lions. At the time, both teams were ranked in the top 5.
Mike McCarthy Speaks out on Will Howard After Steelers Draft QB Drew Allar