The Pittsburgh Steelers already have their starting quarterback for 2026, but the more interesting long-term conversation may be happening behind him. Aaron Rodgers is back for one final season, which gives Pittsburgh a veteran answer for the present. That does not make the rest of the quarterback room any less important. If anything, Rodgers’ timeline makes every rep for Will Howard and Drew Allar more meaningful.
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Steelers QBs Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and Drew Allar throw the ball in the 2026 offseason.
The Steelers have two young quarterbacks who are both trying to prove they belong in the organization’s future plans. Howard was a 2025 sixth-round pick out of Ohio State. Allar was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft after his career at Penn State. Their draft positions are different, their timelines are different, and the outside perception around them is different.
According to Nick Farabaugh, Howard may be giving the Steelers something to think about.
Farabaugh discussed the young quarterback battle during a live appearance on 93.7 The Fan and said Howard has made a real impression on the coaching staff, especially with throws outside the numbers.
"I think Will Howard has really impressed the coaches," Farabaugh said. "The accuracy he has on his throws down the sidelines outside the numbers, I'm really impressed by his ability to throw the ball, wheel routes, go routes. I think it’s fair to say more than Allar."
Allar entered the building with the higher draft investment and the obvious developmental intrigue. He has size, arm talent, and the kind of traits that make teams willing to spend premium picks on quarterbacks. The Steelers did not draft him in the third round by accident. Mike McCarthy and the front office saw enough to believe there was something worth developing.
Howard, however, is not acting like a placeholder. That is what makes Farabaugh’s evaluation interesting. He did not just say Howard looks more comfortable because he has been in the NFL longer. He pointed to specific throws: sideline accuracy, outside-the-numbers placement, wheel routes, and go routes. Those are throws that matter in McCarthy’s offense and throws that can separate a backup candidate from a developmental arm.
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Steelers' Will Howard throws a pass during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in 2026.
The larger Steelers quarterback conversation has centered on how Pittsburgh plans to balance short-term winning with long-term development. Rodgers gives the team a clear starter, while Mason Rudolph gives it veteran insurance. That leaves Howard and Allar fighting for something more complicated than a depth-chart spot.
Howard’s case is built on readiness. He has already spent a season inside an NFL building, even though his rookie year was interrupted before he could truly show much in preseason action. He has had time to learn professional practice habits, understand the speed of the league, and absorb what it takes to stay ready without guaranteed game reps.
Allar’s case is built more on projection. That is not a criticism. Many rookie quarterbacks need time, and the Steelers may be perfectly fine with that. Allar does not need to win the backup job in June or July to justify the pick. If the plan is to rework parts of his game and let him grow behind Rodgers, Rudolph, and Howard, that can still be a smart long-term strategy.
The issue is that Howard may be moving faster right now.
Steelers Quarterback Room Has Real Competition
The Steelers do not need this young quarterback battle to become toxic. They need it to become productive. Howard pushing ahead in certain areas should force Allar to raise his level. Allar’s presence should keep Howard from getting comfortable. That is how a crowded quarterback room can work when the players and coaches handle it correctly.
McCarthy’s role in this is important. He was hired partly because of what he has done with quarterbacks throughout his career. If Howard is showing better accuracy down the field and outside the numbers, McCarthy will notice. If Allar is processing and developing, McCarthy will notice that too.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers talking things over at practice in the summer of 2026.
The Steelers may not know their 2027 quarterback yet, but this offseason is helping shape the picture.
Howard has to carry this momentum into training camp. Practice praise in June only goes so far. The real test will come when the pads go on, the preseason begins, and he has to make those same throws under more pressure.
Still, Farabaugh’s comment gives Howard a strong storyline.
A sixth-round pick being compared favorably to a third-round pick is always notable. It does not mean Howard has won anything. It does not mean Allar is falling behind permanently. It does mean the Steelers’ young quarterback competition may be closer than the draft board suggested.
Howard is making his case with the throws coaches remember right now.
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