Throughout the pre-draft process, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard was widely considered a mid-round draft pick, which made his slide to the sixth round somewhat surprising.
So, what was the disconnect between the pre-draft expectations and where Howard ultimately ended up? Well, NBC Sports’ Chris Simms thinks it had something to do with Howard playing for the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.
“I think it’s because of the emblem on the helmet,” Simms said. “People look at that and they go, ‘Wait, they’re a top-five team in the country. He’s the quarterback. He’s got to be one of the top quarterbacks in the draft.’
“No, there’s a bunch of first-round players on the football team with him. The quarterback is getting the benefit of how awesome the team is there.”
Simms then went on to point out some of Howard’s flaws to justify why he was drafted where he was.
“How many times did I have people on my Instagram or Twitter looking at it going, ‘Why isn’t Will Howard being talked about as a first-round or a second-round quarterback? I don’t know, because his arm is below average,” Simms said.
“Because he’s not incredibly accurate and he’s not the greatest athlete in the world. Other than that, he should be the first pick of the draft. I’m not trying to get on Will Howard, but it’s just the expectations.”
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While Howard isn’t elite in any of the aforementioned areas, he’s no slouch, either, and could turn himself into a bona fide starting quarterback in the NFL if he can develop.
Howard flashed sufficient arm strength in college, and he made some impressive throws that displayed his accuracy and touch. When it comes to athleticism, he certainly isn’t electric, but Howard has enough to help him in the NFL.
Expectations might have been higher before the draft, but those have simmered down now that Howard is a sixth-round draft choice.
If he succeeds, the Steelers will have gotten themselves one of the biggest steals in the 2025 NFL draft. If he doesn’t, his status as a late-round pick will make the pain from missing on him minimal.
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