There’s been a lot of excitement around rookie quarterback Will Howard with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But Howard hasn’t been able to play this preseason because of a hand injury.
Still, Howard appears fully entrenched as the team’s No. 3 quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. But could that change before the 2025 regular season?
Fansided’s Tommy Jaggi argued there’s one trade package for Indianapolis Colts former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson that they shouldn’t turn down.
On Wednesday, Jaggi proposed the Steelers send No. 4 quarterback Skylar Thompson and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Colts. In exchange, the Steelers would receive Richardson and a 2026 seventh-round choice.
The Steelers would then have Richardson serve as the team’s No. 3 quarterback instead of Howard in 2025.
“The low cost of the trade would make Richardson expendable if the experiment goes south. With Richardson added to the roster, the Steelers could feel more comfortable with stashing Will Howard on season-ending IR, making Richardson the QB3 behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph,” wrote Jaggi.
“The best part of this is that Richardson is actually younger than Will Howard, and his presence would give Pittsburgh another dart to throw against the wall and see if it sticks. Richardson will still be 23 years old after the 2026 NFL Draft, and with another year to develop, you never know what could happen.”
NFL pundits have begun speculating Richardson is a trade candidate because the Colts named Daniel Jones their starting quarterback Tuesday. With Richardson’s raw talent but poor decision-making, pundits are split on whether starting Jones is the right decision.
But with the Steelers in 2025, Richardson could learn behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
What Anthony Richardson Could Bring to Steelers
Richardson has been a polarizing quarterback prospect since the Colts drafted him at No. 4 overall. Pundits have always loved his raw skills, but the 23-year-old hasn’t put it all together on the field.
Richardson has also struggled to stay healthy. During the first month of his rookie season, he suffered a concussion. Richardson then sustained a AC joint sprain in Week 5, which ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.
Last year, Richardson missed two games with an oblique injury and two contests because of a back ailment.
In 11 games last season, Richardson posted a 47.7% completion percentage and 6.9 yards per pass. He also threw eight touchdowns versus 12 interceptions.
He’s unlikely to ever fulfill the expectations he received by being the No. 4 overall pick. But Jaggi argued he could be the next Sam Darnold.
“In all likelihood, we’ve seen enough of Anthony Richardson to know that he’s not going to reach his ceiling,” Jaggi wrote. “However, we’ve also seen how a change of scenery and a different coaching staff can make all the difference for a young QB.
Richardson is only 24 years old, which makes him younger than Howard. His age and unteachable traits such as size and arm strength could make him a worthwhile flier for a team such as the Steelers.
With Jaggi’s proposed trade, the Steelers would also capitalize on Thompson’s value due to his strong preseason play.
“Instead of cutting Skylar Thompson outright, the Steelers could include the former Dolphins backup QB in the trade,” Jaggi wrote. “This might not sweeten the deal much, but just enough to net a seventh-round pick back from the Colts.
“This would give Indy the security of a veteran QB behind Daniel Jones if rookie Riley Leonard isn’t ready to step into action in the event of an early-season injury.”
QB Will Howard Injury Update
Despite NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting Howard would miss three weeks because of the hand injury he suffered on August 5, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held out hope the rookie would play in the preseason finale on August 21.
But this week, Tomlin called Howard’s injury week-to-week and ruled him out for Thursday.
It’s likely the Steelers didn’t place Howard on injured reserve after his injury in the hopes he would get an opportunity for preseason snaps. But with that no longer possible, an IR stint appears more likely.
Should that occur, the Steelers could treat 2025 as a redshirt year for the rookie quarterback. That’s not ideal because then the team would enter next offseason without seeing Howard in a game setting. But that could be the reality anyway with Howard as the No. 3 quarterback in the regular season.
With Richardson, the Steelers would add another quarterback into the fold who could compete with Howard in 2026. Having both signal-callers also wouldn’t discourage the Steelers from drafting another quarterback if there’s one they like in the 2026 class.
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