Steelers Beat Writer Makes Explosive Claim About Pittsburgh Cutting Will Howard For Rookie QB Drew Allar

The Pittsburgh Steelers made the decision to draft quarterback Drew Allar with the 76th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. When Mike McCarthy selected the Penn State product, there was plenty of debate about what it meant for 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard out of Ohio State. McCarthy has been very clear that he's excited about the potential Howard brings to the team. However, he didn't draft Howard, but he did help hand-pick Allar in the third round.

Naturally, many feel as if McCarthy would be more tied to Allar because that was his investment and selection. Though McCarthy has been very open and honest that if he had been coaching the Steelers in 2025, he would have decided to draft Howard much earlier than the sixth round. Either way, both are low-risk, high-reward options whom the Steelers are hopeful can compete against each other and develop in McCarthy's quarterback room.

For the 2026 season, after a long waiting game, Aaron Rodgers has made it known that he will be the starter before retiring after the year. That leaves Mason Rudolph as the expected backup for now, followed by Howard and Allar. No one knows whether the Steelers are going to keep four quarterbacks or not, but initially, Steelers beat writer Jim Wexell, who has covered the team for 32 years, had Howard getting cut. 

"Why does McCarthy keep saying four quarterbacks? I wonder if he's just getting us used to this," Wexell said while speaking on The Steel City Insider podcast. "He's getting us used to the fact that he may keep four, but I do have Howard cut right now. ... I only cut him because I did quarterbacks first and just assumed it would be very difficult to keep 25 offensive players. It did come down to it, though, that they could keep Howard and cut Ryan McCollum, the backup center, because Mason McCormick can play center in a pinch. So can Brock Hoffman, and so can Spencer Anderson."

However, there is a path for that not to happen. In past seasons, the Steelers have needed a reliable backup center, and that has kept a roster spot open for Ryan McCollum. 

However, that may no longer be necessary now with Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson, and Brock Hoffman all capable of playing spot center if needed. Effectively, that could allow the Steelers to keep all four quarterbacks after all.

"Drew Allar is showing me something. I don't know that you can sneak him back from the practice squad," Wexell said. "I believe you can probably sneak Howard back, but again, I have come around to them keeping four if somebody gets hurt. There could be a minor injury and you keep a guy on IR like Allar. I believe Allar will play in the preseason and have the potential to get a little [nicked up]."

For Allar and Howard, the good news is they will get the luxury of learning under a four-time league MVP QB. Rodgers doesn’t have to take on a mentoring role in 2026, but he’s expected to remain open to it as he enters what will be his final NFL season. His experience and leadership still carry tons of weight in a quarterback room filled with youth and uncertainty.

Steelers May Get Creative To Keep 4 QBs

Some insiders continue to speculate about the Steelers needing to get creative to keep four quarterbacks on the roster. In this context, Wexell echoes those sentiments, hinting that it may only take a minor injury designation or roster maneuvering to make it work. 

While several Steelers insiders won’t say it explicitly, they have suggested that such a scenario is possible.

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