Will
Howard.
Will
Howard.
Ohio St.· 6'4"· 236 lb
"Howard won a national championship at Ohio State in his fifth college season and still went in the sixth round, because the arm never matched the résumé."Pre-draft read
Howard is a 6-4, 236-pound quarterback who plays within structure. He is decisive on rhythm throws, he distributes the ball on time in a play-action passing game, and he has enough functional mobility to escape a lane and pick up a first down — 26 career rushing touchdowns is not nothing for a pocket-first passer.
The arm is average. He can make the standard NFL throws but he lacks the velocity to fit the ball into tight intermediate windows, and his deep ball floats when he has to throw off-platform. Under pressure his mechanics deteriorate and the ball sails, which explains an interception total that stayed stubbornly high across five seasons.
Play-action and rhythm-based offense that gets the ball out on time and does not ask him to win from a collapsed pocket with pure arm talent.
Year 1: QB3 developing behind the starter. Ceiling: long-term QB2 who can win games in relief.
Vertical offense that asks him to throw receivers open into tight NFL windows.
Everything about him is average-plus except the arm, and the arm decides the ceiling.
Will Howard 2024 regular season highlights! Ohio State QB
Will Howard Ohio State debut highlights vs. Akron!
Will Howard 2024 Highlights | No. 185 Overall to Steelers | Ohio State University
Howard started at Kansas State for four years before transferring to Ohio State, where he completed 309 of 423 for 4,010 yards with 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 16 games and won a national title. His career totals: 767 of 1,202 for 9,796 yards, 83 touchdowns and 35 interceptions, plus 1,160 rushing yards and 26 scores.
The 2024 season is the best argument for him. Surrounded by NFL talent he played efficient, low-variance quarterback in the biggest games of the year, protected the football better than he ever had, and made throws when the season depended on it.
The concern is that the same season is the outlier. Thirty-five career interceptions and modest arm talent suggest a player who was elevated by his supporting cast rather than one who elevates an offense. Pittsburgh is buying size, experience and a winning résumé at a price where those things are worth having. He should compete for the QB2 job and could hold it for years.
- 01
Career Experience
He started in a national championship and has 50 career games of experience.
- 02
Prototype Size
His prototype size is 6-4, 236 pounds with genuine durability.
- 03
Rhythm Play-Action
He was efficient in a rhythm play-action game, scoring 35 touchdowns in 2024.
- 04
Functional Mobility
He has 1,160 career rushing yards and 26 scores.
- 05
Big Game Poise
He handled a massive stage without visible mechanical collapse.
- 01
Average Arm Strength
He has average arm strength and struggles to drive the ball into tight windows.
- 02
Career Interceptions
He recorded 35 career interceptions across five seasons.
- 03
Pressure Mechanics
His mechanics break down under pressure, causing throws to sail.
- 04
Personnel Dependent
His production was heavily supported by elite Ohio State personnel.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- —s
- Vertical
- 31.5inp50
- Broad jump
- 112inp50
- Three-cone
- 7.13sp50
- Shuttle
- 4.33sp50
- Bench
- —rep
| Yr | Team | G | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Kansas State | 9 | 90 | 168 | 1178 | 8 | 10 |
| 2021 | Kansas State | 6 | 30 | 55 | 332 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | Kansas State | 7 | 119 | 198 | 1633 | 15 | 4 |
| 2023 | Kansas State | 12 | 219 | 358 | 2643 | 24 | 10 |
| 2024 | Ohio State | 16 | 309 | 423 | 4010 | 35 | 10 |
| Career | — | 50 | 767 | 1202 | 9796 | 83 | 35 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
- Jeremiah SmithWR13%
- Emeka EgbukaWR9%
- TreVeyon HendersonRB7%
#1 of 20 tracked contributors · Production leaned on volume · Offense explosiveness 1.34 (p82) · CFBD — usage x PPA per tracked player
Projects as a capable backup with the ability to step in and manage games, offering occasional high-level play but prone to streaky performances.
Possesses the arm talent and physical tools to develop into a reliable NFL starter, showcasing flashes of brilliance amidst some inconsistencies.
Could carve out a niche as a career third-string quarterback or emergency starter, valued for his intelligence and professionalism but lacking elite arm talent.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Pittsburgh took a big, experienced quarterback in the sixth round to fill out a room, which is exactly the right use of the pick.
The arm is why a national champion lasted this long. Scouts watched five seasons of tape and saw the same ceiling every year.
The realistic path is backup quarterback for a decade with a handful of starts. If the play-action efficiency from 2024 holds, he can be a competent bridge for a season somewhere.