{"id":28509,"date":"2025-05-06T14:06:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T14:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/28509\/"},"modified":"2025-05-06T14:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T14:06:10","slug":"jon-gruden-believes-steelers-got-a-steal-in-will-howard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/28509\/","title":{"rendered":"Jon Gruden Believes Steelers ‘Got A Steal In Will Howard’"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this year\u2019s draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn\u2019t spend a high draft pick on a quarterback. Instead, they waited until the sixth round to attack that position, drafting Ohio State\u2019s Will Howard. Usually, sixth-round picks don\u2019t blossom into franchise quarterbacks.<\/a> Therefore, it\u2019s unfair to call Howard the Steelers\u2019 future under center. However, former NFL head coach Jon Gruden thinks the Steelers got a great player.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go on record here,\u201d Gruden said Monday on SiriusXM Radio at the<\/a> Senior Bowl Hall of Fame induction ceremony. \u201cThe Pittsburgh Steelers got a steal in Will Howard. That guy is a stud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the pre-draft process, Gruden did not hide his love for Howard. The young quarterback appeared on Gruden\u2019s QB Class<\/a> this year, and the former NFL head coach came away impressed. At the very least, Howard has Gruden\u2019s support.<\/p>\n

Howard was a great player in college, especially during his final year. In the 2024 season, he helped Ohio State win the National Championship, battling some adversity along the way. Howard saved his best ball for the biggest moments, too. He was named the Offensive MVP of that championship game. The lights were not too bright for him.<\/p>\n

During that same appearance, Gruden offered up more praise for Howard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made the comparison to Josh Allen, and everyone said, \u2018Oh, Gruden thinks he\u2019s Josh Allen.\u2019 No, I said he\u2019s 6047, 236 [pounds]. I want you to get a feel for how big this guy is. He can run the direct power plays. He can run the zone read plays. He has four touchdown runs of over 70 yards. He won big at Kansas State. He won it all at Ohio State. And he can play in cold weather.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gruden did compare Howard to Allen, one of the best quarterbacks in the league today, but only to give a perspective on the rookie\u2019s size. While that doesn\u2019t mean everything, it does matter. Given Howard\u2019s athleticism, it\u2019s even more important. Just this year, Mike Tomlin stressed how much he appreciates mobility at that position.<\/p>\n

Can Howard be a franchise quarterback? Maybe, but he has a long road to go to get there.<\/a> Although he has nice traits and won big games in college, the NFL is a different beast. Luckily, he shouldn\u2019t be thrust into a starting role during his rookie year.<\/p>\n

That should allow Howard to sit and learn, working on his game. Perhaps that will help him become a decent starter one day. While Pittsburgh could still draft a quarterback next year, if they find themselves in purgatory at the position again, maybe Howard can provide them with a little comfort. Even if he doesn\u2019t become a star, taking a chance on him<\/a> in the sixth round felt like a good move.<\/p>\n