"As the Pittsburgh Steelers passed on the opportunity to draft a quarterback early in the 2025 draft, they opted for Ohio State’s Will Howard in the sixth round, recognizing the need for a fallback if negotiations with veteran Aaron Rodgers fall through," Hadley wrote.

Pittsburgh used a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft to select Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, adding him to a QB room that includes veteran backups Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. None of them is considered a viable starter for the 2025 season, leaving the Steelers with no choice but to continue hoping that Rodgers signs with them.