Will Howard Appears to Have Early Edge in Steelers QB2 Battle After Minicamp
Even though Aaron Rodgers returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026 season, the quarterback position remains a mystery beyond this year. The Steelers have drafted Will Howard and Drew Allar in consecutive drafts, but it remains unclear whether either is truly the franchise's long-term answer under center. Mason Rudolph is also on the roster, but his NFL trajectory appears firmly established as that of a career backup. For now, Pittsburgh must determine who will serve as Rodgers' primary backup in 2026. While head coach Mike McCarthy has praised all four quarterbacks on the roster as players the Steelers "love," only three are likely to make the 53-man roster.
OTAs and minicamp not only gave McCarthy an up-close look at his quarterbacks, but they also reshaped the depth chart. Those developments affected more than just offseason reps, they may offer a glimpse into the team's plans heading into training camp.
Is Will Howard Steelers New QB2?
Since 2018, Rudolph has spent most of his career as a primary backup. While he delivered when called upon during the 2023 season, his ceiling is well established: a high-end backup. Meanwhile, the Steelers have used OTAs and minicamp to accelerate the development of Howard and Allar. Most notably, Howard has received the majority of first-team reps whenever Rodgers has been given veteran rest days.
That development is significant because it strongly suggests Howard is the frontrunner to serve as Rodgers' primary backup. While Rudolph could still alter the pecking order during training camp, McCarthy has consistently praised Howard throughout the offseason. It's no surprise that McCarthy wants a closer evaluation of one of his young quarterbacks before the season begins.
The biggest question after training camp will be whether the Steelers have enough confidence in Howard to officially hand him the backup role. For now, however, Howard has done enough during minicamp to enter training camp as the favorite for the QB2 job.
The QB School's Newest Student
Pittsburgh's QB3 appears much easier to identify. Allar was handpicked by McCarthy in the 2026 NFL Draft. Although he had a disappointing senior season at Penn State, he possesses nearly every trait NFL teams covet in a quarterback: prototypical size, elite arm talent, and extensive starting experience at the collegiate level. The challenge is that Allar remains extremely raw despite his physical gifts. As a result, the Steelers have already begun overhauling aspects of his mechanics.
Fortunately for Allar, McCarthy is exactly the type of coach he needs. Throughout his career, McCarthy has developed quarterbacks and helped maximize their potential. While the Steelers won't ask Allar to become the franchise quarterback this season, he finds himself in an ideal situation. He will have the opportunity to develop under McCarthy while learning behind future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.
There are no guarantees that the plan will succeed, but Allar's draft status, long-term upside, and the attention McCarthy has devoted to his development make him the clear favorite to occupy the QB3 role and secure a spot on the 53-man roster.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 12:30 PM.