Will Howard focused on the where, not the when, in the NFL Draft

When you are the quarterback of a National Championship team, most would assume the signal caller would be a top pick in the NFL Draft.

If not a 1st Round pick, a Day 2 pick, right?

Wrong.

For Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard, his wait was all the way till the 6th Round of the 2025 draft. After having one of his best seasons, he had to wait until deep in Day 3 until his name was called by the Pittsburgh Steelers. As uncomfortable as it was to watch, in the clip below you can see the genuine joy he had. Not just to be drafted, by to be drafted by the Steelers.

Will Howard manifested the @Steelers drafting him:

“Please pick me, Pittsburgh. Please pick me, please!” #HeyRookie Season Finale airs 9:30 pm ET tonight on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/qwNIEs7Uw4

— NFL (@NFL) April 29, 2025

“I talked to the Steelers at the Combine,” said Howard. “I had a formal interview with them. I had dinner with them before our Pro Day. It just made a lot of sense. From the moment I met Coach (Mike) Tomlin, I was like this is a guy I can play for. I am just so blessed. I am overwhelmed.”

Ultimately, Howard is focused more on where he was drafted, and not the when. When you look at his accolades throughout his career, you wouldn’t bat an eye if he was slightly dejected for not being drafted until the 6th Round. However, Howard is just thankful he landed where he did.

“It’s been long. But it’s not about when, it’s where,” said Howard, who is from West Chester, Pa. “I had to trust in God and believe he had a plan for me and the right team was going to pick me. And I think 100 percent the right team picked me. I am a Pennsylvania kid.

“The Steelers are an organization I have a lot of respect for a lot of years. Coming into this process I was hoping the Steelers would take me because I thought it was a great organization. I am so blessed.

“I couldn’t be more fired up to be with an organization like the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

This is absolutely one of those great feel-good stories which typically stem from the NFL Draft, but feel-good stories don’t necessarily equate in years of service in the league. Howard will have expectations heaped upon him based on his position, but as a 6th Round pick the hope should be he sticks on the roster in some capacity, even if it is as a back-up.

This weekend the Steelers will get their first real look at Howard, and all other rookies, at the annual Rookie Minicamp, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of the offseason and training camp.