The Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach, Mike Tomlin, along with their general manager, Omar Khan, had meetings with three assistants. Ohio State Prospects ahead of Ohio State’s Pro Day scheduled for Wednesday. Both Tomlin and Khan had meetings with running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, along with quarterback Will Howard. based on reports from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .
Howard, expected to be selected on Day 3 of the draft, verified after Ohio State's Pro Day that he had indeed met with Pittsburgh's leadership team the prior day. Additionally, Howard had previously connected with the Steelers back in 2025. NFL The Scouting Combine. Pittsburgh’s strategy for the quarterback position seems to involve selecting a player capable of learning under Mason Rudolph, with the possibility of Aaron Rodgers joining the team if he chooses to sign with them.
"Yeah, everything has gone quite well," Howard stated regarding his pre-draft discussions with the Steelers. via Steelers Now. Yesterday, I had the chance to spend some time with Coach Tomlin and Coach Smith, and it was truly enjoyable. I genuinely enjoy their company. The location works well for me as it’s near my place and also conveniently situated nearby. There are many appealing aspects to consider. While outcomes remain uncertain, this certainly seems like an excellent opportunity. Each one of them contributes positively.
The Steelers They anticipate drafting a quarterback and a running back following the departures of Najee Harris, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson through free agency. Given their visits to players in Columbus, it seems likely they will focus on these roles in the mid-draft stages. However, this strategy might shift if a top-tier prospect becomes available before then.
The 6 feet 4 inches, 235 pounds Howard spent four years at Kansas State Before wrapping up his time at Ohio State as part of the Buckeyes, Howard dominated the Big Ten last season with impressive stats: he topped the league in completion rate (73%), passing yards (4,010), and TD passes (35). During Ohio State’s playoff push, he threw for an average of 287.5 yards per game, completing 75.2 percent of his attempts with eight scores and just two picks.
Henderson and Judkins are expected to be selected somewhere between the third and fourth rounds of the draft (they rank at No. 79 and No. 97 on CBS Sports’ list of draft prospects, respectively). As for Howard, who is listed as the ninth-best quarterback and the 152nd-overall prospect by CBS Sports, he is anticipated to be chosen in the fifth round.
The 5-feet-10, 210-pound Henderson played for four years at Ohio State, accumulating 3,761 rushing yards and scoring 42 touchdowns with an impressive average of 6.4 yards per carry. Twice he topped the Big Ten Conference in yards per carry. Last season, following injuries that reduced his playing time over the prior two years, Henderson managed an astounding 7.1-yard average per carry as part of the team that secured the national championship. His performance was significant. 75-yard reception followed by a run into the end zone for a score during Ohio State's postseason victory over Texas .
Judkins began his collegiate journey at Ole Miss Before joining Columbus during the previous off-season, the 6-foot, 218-pound Judkins dominated the SEC as a freshman by leading the conference in rushing yards (1,567) and touchdown runs (16). In 2023, he once more topped the SEC in rushing touchdowns before contributing 1,060 yards and 14 scores in his single year with the Buckeyes. During Ohio State’s victory, he managed to rush for 100 yards and score three total touchdowns. Notre Dame in the College Football National playoff championship that encompassed a 70-yard scoring jaunt .
Should the Steelers allocate their middle-round selections to these roles, anticipate they will utilize their first-round choice on a player who plays as a defensive tackle, wide receiver, or cornerbacks. Pittsburgh currently does not possess a second-round pick after sending it to Seattle as part of the DK Metcalf trade.
