(Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and his role could grow as the year goes on.
In a recent episode of his Footbahlin podcast, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger had some advice for the rookie on the kind of mindset he could have going into the season.
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“He needs to understand, and I would tell him this: you don’t have pressure, bud. You are a sixth-rounder, there is no pressure,” Roethlisberger said. “He should go into this season with the mentality of ‘I can play free, I have no pressure.'”
The 43-year-old retired quarterback knows a thing or two about having a good rookie year. He led the Steelers to a perfect 13-0 record in the games he started, which led him to be named the unanimous Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2004.
While Howard was not the 11th overall pick like Roethlisberger was, he is looking to have a similar impact down the road. Many expected the Steelers to take a quarterback earlier, but the team decided to wait until round six. As a result, the team’s starting quarterback at the moment is Mason Rudolph.
This probably does mean the team has a plan involving Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins, but Howard could still be a part of that plan. Both of those guys are in the twilight of their careers, so the team will be in need of their quarterback of the future.
Howard is hoping that he can be that guy, like Roethlisberger before him.
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