The Pittsburgh Steelers are through two weeks of training camp, and their young quarterbacks have been under the microscope. Fans are eager to see Will Howard and Drew Allar take the field when the preseason begins Thursday. It could provide the first glimpse of the future if either quarterback can develop into the face of the franchise.
That may be a long shot, but developing a future quarterback is one of the reasons head coach Mike McCarthy was hired this offseason. McCarthy has routinely praised both Howard and Allar, who each possess plenty of upside and the potential to become stable NFL quarterbacks. Allar arguably has more physical tools, but McCarthy remains pleased with the progress of both young signal callers.
McCarthy recently spoke about Howard and Allar on SiriusXM, highlighting their ability to take advantage of their opportunities while expressing confidence in their futures.
"Can’t say enough about the two young guys. I think both of these guys have very bright futures. We have to give them all the possible opportunities that we can. It’s an extremely healthy quarterback room." McCarthy said.
Can Mike McCarthy develop one of these quarterbacks into the next franchise QB?
The Steelers have been searching for their next franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. They believed they found a potential answer when they selected Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but that experiment quickly fell apart. Pickett never established himself as the long-term answer, and the Steelers eventually moved on after just two seasons. Since then, Pittsburgh has continued searching for stability at the position.
That makes Howard and Allar particularly intriguing. The Steelers now have two young quarterbacks with legitimate developmental potential, giving McCarthy an opportunity to mold one of them into a potential long-term starter. Neither quarterback needs to become the next franchise player this season. The more important question is whether McCarthy can develop their talent enough to determine if either has what it takes to eventually lead the Steelers.
Howard must find a way to beat Mason Rudolph for the QB2 job to have a shot
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Before Howard can worry about becoming Pittsburgh’s future starter, he has to secure his immediate future with the team. Howard enters the preseason competing with veteran Mason Rudolph for the No. 2 quarterback job behind Aaron Rodgers. Rudolph has the advantage of experience and familiarity with the Steelers, making this a significant challenge for the, in essence, rookie. Remember, Howard hasn't received a live snap since January of 2025, not even getting to play in preseason last year.
Howard needs a strong preseason to prove he deserves the backup job and secure a roster spot. If he can consistently make plays, protect the football, and show the coaching staff he can handle the offense, he could force Pittsburgh to give him a longer look. Winning the QB2 job would also give Howard a clearer path to becoming a starter down the road. If he continues developing throughout the next two seasons, he could eventually receive an opportunity to compete for the starting job in 2027. His competition could likely be against Allar himself.
For now, though, Howard has to prove he belongs. The preseason could be his first major opportunity to show McCarthy that his future is worth investing in. It also gives Allar the chance to show why he was once considered a first-round talent before a rough senior season at Penn State.
