Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch put Will Howard on notice during a recent episode of The Snap Count podcast. Howard has received a lot of hype recently, but the sixth-round quarterback out of Ohio State has to prove it.
All signs point toward Aaron Rodgers eventually signing with the Steelers, but if not, Howard could be the Steelers' starter in 2026.
"Prove that this is your job. Go out there and take it," Batch said.
Howard, a sixth-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2025, suited up for just one game in his rookie campaign. He played zero snaps. Howard sustained a fractured right (throwing) hand pinky finger early in training camp. The injury caused him to miss the entire preseason and started the season on injured reserve. He was activated on Nov. 12.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy has been on record that he's very bullish on Howard. During his media availability at the NFL Owners Meetings on Tuesday, McCarthy provided more insight on what he likes about the second-year quarterback out of Ohio State.
"People get caught up on what round he went in, but if I was drafting players that year, he wouldn't have been around in the fifth or sixth round," McCarthy said. "I valued him higher than that based off Kansas State. I just thought he just jumped out of the TV set during the College Playoffs (at Ohio State). I mean, what is there not to like about the guy? I think he's definitely a real prospect as a starting quarterback. I believed that when he came out."
McCarthy explained what Howard needs to work on the most to succeed at the pro level.
"The biggest thing with Will, and it's probably consistent with young quarterbacks, you got to win from the pocket," McCarthy said. "At the end of the day, nine or 10 games a year are going to come down to the two-minute drill. That's what the stats tell you. That's the way we train. So his ability to win from the pocket because I think he has everything else.
"You can talk about his throwing motion, some things throwing the ball. I think there's a lot of growth with his feet. Like a lot of these guys. The challenge I see in college football is so scheme heavy and they're running these quarterbacks and the schemes are diverse, there's not a lot of training in the footwork. So, throwing the ball, and you got the best guy that's probably ever done in it in Aaron Rodgers . I mean, you look at the way Aaron throws, just watch his feet. Watch the ground force explosion that comes up from his feet to his hips into his throwing motion. My point is, there's room for development there. I think there's a lot to work with Will."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Former Steelers Quarterback Sends Blunt Message to Will Howard
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