Will Howard

Last yr was
Was already declining
My personal opinion of course
Others will always see differently

 

yep. been saying that for awhile. nussmeier looked very good at the Sr. bowl in front of a lot of NFL people too. they were talking 2nd round but now i think he's moved himself up into that first round consideration. maybe at 21.

 

• Despite the frustrating final year, NFL teams are interested in understanding the injury, and his Senior Bowl performance has boosted his prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.

 

To me if they think he is actually legit they will develop him in 2026 for an actual shot in 2027. Whatever they figure out in 2026 will be obvious if the 2027 QB draft is deep. More likely the upside is the guy develops into a Mason level backup. They need to use 2026 to build up offense for whoever the next guy will be.

 

Saying this I also thought Rattler would be a starter

 

Never said I liked it, just connecting the dots.

Also, I think he was injured last year.

I leave in SEC territory as well, but follow the Buckeyes.

 

I'm definitely OK with McCarthy getting another young guy he likes from the beginning to compete with Howard.

QB is a tough position to develop apparently, and McCarthy has a good track record.

 

Yep. Can't approach the QB position serially if you don't have the franchise guy. Gotta do things in parallel (if one goes out, the other stays lit).

 

At the same time, there's probably also a good case to be made that it would be better for Howard to ease him into the position after a full healthy offseason, rather than thrust him into the QB1 position under an ALL NEW coaching staff.

 

Unreliable source and a benign comment

See post above

 

Dunno, the mock world says his glide path is in landing mode, not take-off:

 

Schefter gets the most right of anyone IMO. He's usually the one I trust the most. Nobody is going to bat .1000, but there's definitely been conflicting reports, so someone is wrong here lol There hasn't been any mention of us talking to any other QB's yet, so we're either very certain Rodgers is coming back, or very certain we know exactly what we are doing at QB if he's not.

 

There isn't always a perfect chance. Its difficult to tee up a perfect scenario to hand it off to Howard. Get him in camp, let him "battle it out" with Rudolph and if we feel he is equal to or better than Rudolph, then start him. Drake Maye won 4 games his first year as a starter and he wasn't "ruined". We might actually have some weapons around him. A solid OL, two good backs, two quality TE's (of different skillsets), two quality WR's and we are going to add another WR in the draft by day 2 at the latest. McCarthy is an offensive mind with a system that is proven to have worked in the NFL. This is as good as it gets. If they believe in him and think they can develop him into a good starter... then do it.

 

Based on their collegiate careers,
Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) is generally considered to have a higher ceiling and more impressive statistical potential, while Will Howard(Kansas State/Ohio State) has been recognized for his experience, dual-threat ability, and success in a high-profile program.

• Garrett Nussmeier (LSU): Regarded as a top quarterback prospect for the 2026 NFL draft with a strong arm, high-level pre- and post-snap analysis, and significant passing production (4,052 yards, 29 TDs in 2024). He is often described as having "elite" potential but has faced turnover issues.
• Will Howard (Ohio State/Kansas State):A seasoned veteran recognized for his performance in big games, including 2024 playoff appearances. He is seen as a reliable, physically strong passer who improved significantly in his final year.

Verdict: While Nussmeier has the "flashier" stats and is viewed as a potential high NFL draft pick (potentially 1st or 2nd round), Howard's career is marked by more consistent, high-stakes experience, making it a matter of preferring potential (Nussmeier) over proven experience (Howard).
To the few that think Nuss is a better option than Howard

 

Absolutes like that based on a short time at the beginning of a career don't tell the whole story. He may be a starter again, he just needs a chance. No one has that answer yet. Only time and opportunity can tell the real story.

This isn't a crusade for Kenny Pickett. This is just the whole NFL progression thing. A player that gets 4-5 years of experience under his belt and lands in the right system can make a whole lotta people look wrong when they say he stinks and will always be a failure. Saying someone can't play the game at all under possibly the worst OC in the history of the NFL and then bouncing around to multiple teams and learning new offenses every year in bad situations where he has no chance to be the guy isn't the recipe for success. Most quarterbacks that can't play at all and are a complete disaster don't have a record of 16-11 as a starter in his first two seasons under the worst OC of my lifetime.

I'm just saying that everyone that claims to know the entire story of a player that got what amounts to only a glimpse in the NFL is guessing because they really don't know how much growth and improvement can happen. I hope he gets a legit chance after being in a good offensive system to see if he can be more than what we have seen while he was with the Steelers.

 

This 100 %.
Yes will You look better under certain conditions, but you won't be complete a$$ no matter where you go, or who coaches you. There is thousands of players that are great that went to terrible teams , and coaches.

 

Also, I don't want to hear because one was at Ohio State, and one was at LSU. One school is just as big as the other with about the same talent, but one actually looked good in the highest competition in college you can get, the playoffs, and then the National Championship, and the other , not so much

 

I get what you're saying, but there are a lot of quarterbacks making a very good living that don't have elite qualities. The Tom Bradys and Brock Purdys of the world are out there.

I agree with you about Pickett not being a first-round talent. I said that I hoped the Steelers wouldn't draft him in the first round because I didn't think he was a first-round talent. But that in itself doesn't mean that he can't become a competent quarterback. The game gets easier for quarterbacks after several years in the NFL, and the situation these guys land in is critical to how they progress and how much success they have.

I just don't like when people say a player is done and he will never be any good based on some starts in the first couple seasons of his career. Quarterbacks do get better over time. Sure, some guys never get it and simply aren't capable of playing the game at a high enough level to ever start an NFL football game again. Others continue to work on their craft, get in an offense that takes advantage of the skills and strengths they do have, and they are capable players that can start.

I try to be a glass half full guy.