2 parts of Steelers' Aaron Rodgers plan could be major mistakes

Will Howard was a sixth-round pick in 2024 after winning a national title at Ohio State.

Drew Allar was a third-round pick in 2025 from Penn State.

Both have at least some NFL potential, but the Steelers will start running out of chances to diagnose that if they stay locked into Rodgers for another year.

Given the level of QBs in the 2027 draft class, it'd be ideal for Pittsburgh to know whether Howard or Allar are any good before making picks, but they might not get that chance.

"Allar will join 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard as developmental players vying to be Rodgers' backup -- if the 42-year-old quarterback returns," ESPN's Brooke Pryor wrote as part of a new article on Thursday. "If he doesn't? Then all bets are off."

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The price of being painfully average

If Rodgers returns, the Steelers run another risk: They might be painfully average.

As far as landing a QB in next year's draft, it'd help to be picking in the top-10, and maybe even the top-five.

A team with Rodgers at quarterback, even in 2026, likely will be too close to a .500 record to pick that high on the board.

So is bringing Rodgers back also preventing the Steelers from getting a top-notch QB draft prospect? You could make that case.

All told, another year of Rodgers isn't necessarily the best thing for the future years of the Steelers.

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