Who Was The Last Quarterback Picked By The Steelers?
For any football fan, especially those who follow the Pittsburgh Steelers, the quarterback position is, you know, a pretty big deal. It's the heart of the offense, the one who touches the ball on nearly every play, and often, the face of the franchise. The Steelers, a team with a truly rich history, have seen some remarkable signal callers lead their charge over the years, and how they find these players in the draft is always a topic of much discussion.
The team's success, with all those impressive yards and touchdowns, plus a couple of Super Bowl victories, really does connect back to the players they bring in at this vital spot. Finding the right person to lead the offense is a constant puzzle for every NFL team, and the Steelers are certainly no exception. It's a process that involves a lot of scouting and careful decision-making, you know, to find someone who can truly make a difference.
So, with all this in mind, a question often comes up for fans looking back at recent drafts or looking ahead to what's next: just who was the very last quarterback the Steelers decided to bring onto their roster through the draft? It's a query that, in a way, points to the team's ongoing strategy for the most important position on the field.
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Table of Contents
- The Latest Signal Caller: Will Howard's Arrival
- A Look Back: Recent Steelers QB Draft Picks
- Steelers' QB Draft Philosophy Over Time
- The Impact of QB Draft Choices
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Latest Signal Caller: Will Howard's Arrival
When we talk about the most recent quarterback chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL Draft, we're actually looking at a relatively new addition. It's Will Howard, a player from Ohio State, who was picked with the 185th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. This choice came on a Saturday, after the team had gone through its first four picks without taking a quarterback, which, you know, might have surprised some folks.
The Steelers, in fact, got this particular pick, the 185th overall, from the Seattle Seahawks. This was part of a trade involving D.K. Metcalf, a rather well-known receiver. It's interesting how draft picks can move around like that, isn't it? So, they used this specific pick to bring in Howard, who, it seems, they felt quite good about, even if he wasn't the one many initially thought they might add in the 2025 draft.
Howard, during his college days, was a key part of the Ohio State team. He actually helped lead them to a national championship in 2024, after he had transferred there. That's a pretty big accomplishment for a college player, and it probably caught the eye of many NFL scouts, including those from Pittsburgh. So, his college career certainly showed some real promise.
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His selection, whether it was pick 185 or 186 as sometimes listed, marks him as the newest quarterback to join the Steelers through the draft process. This pick, in a way, signals the team's continued search for talent at the quarterback spot, always looking for someone who can contribute and grow with the team. It's just how the draft works, you know, finding those pieces that fit.
A Look Back: Recent Steelers QB Draft Picks
While Will Howard is the newest face in the Steelers' quarterback draft class, he's certainly not the first signal caller they've picked in recent memory. The team has, in fact, made a habit of looking at the rookie quarterback market, bringing in several players over the past few years. It's almost a constant process for NFL teams, isn't it, to keep an eye on talent at this crucial spot.
Over the years, the Steelers have had quite a history of drafting quarterbacks, some of whom have gone on to achieve great things. This continuous search for talent is a big part of how a team builds for the future, and the Steelers, very much, seem to understand that. They're always trying to find the next great player, or at least someone who can really help the team.
Kenny Pickett: The 2022 First-Rounder
Before Will Howard, a really notable quarterback pick for the Steelers was Kenny Pickett. They selected him as the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. This was a pretty significant choice, as it marked the first time since 2004 that the Steelers had used a first-round pick on a quarterback, the last one being Ben Roethlisberger. So, that's a pretty long gap, isn't it?
Pickett played his college football right there in Pittsburgh, for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He had a truly impressive senior year, where he even won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is a big honor for a college quarterback. His local connection and strong college performance made him a very popular pick among the fans, and, you know, there was a lot of excitement around him.
His selection in the first round showed that the Steelers saw him as a potential long-term answer at the position. It was a commitment, in a way, to a player they believed could lead their offense for years to come. That's always the hope when a team takes a quarterback so high in the draft, isn't it?
Mason Rudolph & Josh Dobbs: Mid-Round Selections
A few years before Pickett, the Steelers also, in a way, "dabbled" in the rookie quarterback market by selecting Mason Rudolph in Round 3 of the 2018 draft. Rudolph came from Oklahoma State and was another player they brought in to develop. It's fairly common for teams to pick quarterbacks in these middle rounds, hoping to find a hidden gem or a solid backup.
Along with Rudolph, Josh Dobbs was another mid-round pick, chosen in 2017. To be clear, neither Dobbs nor Rudolph were, you know, viewed as "franchise caliber" quarterbacks right out of the gate. That's why they lasted until the third round and beyond. Their roles were often seen as developmental, or as backups who could step in if needed.
These picks show a different approach compared to a first-round selection. They're more about adding depth, developing talent, and seeing if a player can grow into a larger role over time. It's a strategy many teams employ, trying to find value later in the draft.
Chris Oladokun: A Later Pick
In the same 2022 draft class as Kenny Pickett, the Steelers also selected another quarterback, Chris Oladokun. He was a much later pick, taken in the seventh round. This kind of pick is often seen as a "flier," a chance to bring in a player with some potential who might need a lot of development.
Kevin Colbert, who spent 22 years in the Pittsburgh Steelers' front office, oversaw every draft pick during his tenure, from Plaxico Burress all the way to Chris Oladokun. So, Oladokun was one of his final quarterback selections before he moved on. It shows how the team, you know, really does cast a wide net when looking for talent at this position.
Later-round picks like Oladokun typically face a tougher road to making an NFL roster. They often spend time on practice squads, working to improve their game and waiting for an opportunity. It's a very challenging path, but some players do manage to break through.
Steelers' QB Draft Philosophy Over Time
The Steelers' approach to drafting quarterbacks has, you know, certainly evolved over the years, but some patterns do emerge. For a very long time, Ben Roethlisberger was the cornerstone, picked in the first round back in 2004. He truly became a franchise icon, leading the team for nearly two decades. His selection marked a period of stability at the quarterback position that few teams ever get to experience.
After Roethlisberger, there was a significant gap before the Steelers again invested a first-round pick in a quarterback, with Kenny Pickett in 2022. This suggests that when they do go for a quarterback early, they're looking for someone they believe can be the face of the team for a very long time. It's a big commitment, after all, to use such a high pick on one player.
During the years between Roethlisberger and Pickett, the Steelers often looked to the middle and later rounds for quarterback depth, as seen with Mason Rudolph, Josh Dobbs, and Chris Oladokun. These picks, in a way, served different purposes. They were about finding players who could back up the starter, or perhaps develop into something more over time. It's a more conservative approach, in some respects, than going for a first-round splash every few years.
Kevin Colbert's long tenure as the general manager played a huge part in this philosophy. He oversaw every draft pick for over two decades, meaning he was responsible for bringing in players like Plaxico Burress early in his time, all the way through to Chris Oladokun at the end. This continuity in leadership likely shaped how the team approached the draft, including their quarterback selections. You can learn more about NFL draft history on our site, which might shed more light on these trends.
The Steelers have, typically, been a team that values stability and continuity, and this has often extended to their quarterback position. They haven't been a team to constantly churn through starters, preferring to find a long-term solution and build around them. This is why, when they do make a significant quarterback pick, it's often seen as a major moment for the franchise.
The decision to draft Will Howard in 2025, after passing on the position with their first four picks, also fits this pattern of finding value later. It shows they're willing to wait for the right player, rather than forcing a pick earlier just to get a quarterback. It's a patient approach, which, you know, can sometimes pay off big.
The Impact of QB Draft Choices
The choices a team makes when drafting quarterbacks have a truly massive impact on the franchise's overall success. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, their quarterback draft class since 2000 has contributed, in a way, to some really impressive numbers. We're talking about 64,088 yards and 418 touchdowns, plus those two Super Bowl wins. These figures, you know, highlight just how important the quarterback position is.
A successful quarterback pick can, more or less, define an era for a team. Think about Ben Roethlisberger; his selection in 2004 set the stage for years of winning football and Super Bowl appearances. He was the kind of player who could elevate the entire team around him, and that's the dream for any team drafting a quarterback.
Even picks that aren't first-rounders can make a difference. Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs, for instance, provided depth and, sometimes, started games when needed. While they might not have been seen as "franchise caliber," their presence allowed the team to navigate various situations without a complete collapse at the position. It's very much about having options.
The ongoing process of drafting quarterbacks, whether it's a high-profile pick like Kenny Pickett or a later selection like Will Howard, is a continuous investment in the team's future. It's about ensuring there's always talent in the pipeline, ready to step up and contribute. The Steelers, it seems, are always looking for that next player who can help them add to their impressive statistics and, perhaps, even more Super Bowl trophies. For a deeper look at team strategies, you might want to explore this page on our site.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Steelers last draft a quarterback in the first round?
The Steelers last drafted a quarterback in the first round in 2022, when they selected Kenny Pickett as the 20th overall pick. Before Pickett, the last time they picked a quarterback in the first round was in 2004, with Ben Roethlisberger.
Who was Kevin Colbert's last quarterback draft pick for the Steelers?
Kevin Colbert, during his 22 years in the Steelers' front office, oversaw many draft picks. His very last quarterback selection was Chris Oladokun, who was drafted in the same 2022 NFL Draft class as Kenny Pickett.
Did the Steelers draft a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft?
Based on the information, the Steelers selected Ohio State QB Will Howard with the 185th or 186th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The provided text doesn't explicitly mention a quarterback being drafted by the Steelers in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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