The Pittsburgh Steelers have a quarterback competition on their hands. However, it isn't for the starting job. That belongs to Aaron Rodgers, who is entering what is expected to be his final NFL season. Instead, the battle is for the backup role between Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. Howard may be behind in the competition, but there's still plenty of time for that to change. Even so, one longtime Steelers writer offered a rather unflattering comparison by likening him to a former first-round bust.
Jim Wexell, a longtime Steelers writer and author of Steeler Nation, shared his thoughts on Howard during The Steel City Insider podcast. He compared Howard to former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.
“The arm is good enough, just as Kenny Pickett’s arm was good enough,” Wexell said. “It’s not bad. It might not be weaker than Mason’s.”
Not the most flattering Steelers comparison
It's a comparison that will make many Steelers fans cringe. Still, there's some merit to it. In hindsight, Pickett never looked like a true first-round talent. If anything, his talent level may have been closer to where Howard was ultimately selected. Howard, of course, was a sixth-round pick. Unlike Pickett, however, Howard was a far more productive quarterback in college.
Howard also offers more upside than Pickett. He's more athletic, has a more prototypical NFL frame, and showed greater promise throughout his collegiate career. He led Ohio State to a national championship while also flashing his potential at Kansas State, where he recorded touchdown runs of 80 and 71 yards.
Still, Howard fell to the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He doesn't possess elite arm talent, but he displays similar accuracy over the middle of the field to what Pickett showed coming out of college. Howard has also consistently demonstrated a more competitive mindset than the former Pitt quarterback.
Howard can learn from Pickett's exit
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When the Steelers drafted Drew Allar, it created a difficult situation for Howard. To secure a roster spot, he needs to beat out Rudolph for the backup quarterback job. That won't be easy, but Howard has embraced competition throughout his career and hasn't backed down from challenging situations.
The same can't be said about Pickett. He requested trades on two occasions during his NFL career rather than working through difficult circumstances.
If Howard learns from those examples, continues to compete, and maintains a strong work ethic, he'll be in a much better position regardless of whether the Steelers choose Rudolph as the backup. A willingness to compete and continue developing can carry a quarterback a long way. Pickett's NFL opportunities have largely dried up because of his limited ceiling and inability to work on his game while earning starting opportunities. Howard, meanwhile, has the traits to become a respected career backup plus and could eventually develop into a capable bridge quarterback.
