The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ owner, Art Rooney II, recently said he’s expecting Aaron Rodgers‘ decision before the 2026 NFL draft. If Rodgers returns to play, Mike McCarthy can surely build a team around the 42-year-old quarterback. But in a what-if world, if Rodgers doesn’t return and instead considers retirement, which way would the Steelers like to go? The franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger just addressed the situation.

“If Aaron does come back, I think this team is primed to just build around a quarterback. Build around Aaron Rodgers if he’s back,” Roethlisberger said. “If he’s not back, just build around a young guy, Will Howard.”

Considering Rodgers’ uncertainty, the Steelers were linked to Kirk Cousins this offseason. On Thursday, however, Cousins signed a five-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, which is worth up to $172 million with $20 million guaranteed, and is now expected to start and mentor the projected first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza.

With Cousins gone, attention now once again shifts to Will Howard, who is yet to make his NFL debut. A former sixth-round pick of the 2025 NFL draft, Howard recently drew praise from Coach McCarthy. At the Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, McCarthy remarked that he’d have drafted Howard higher than the Steelers picked him at the 185th pick.

So it’s evident that McCarthy has confidence in Howard. The question now is whether Howard will get some regular-season starts in the 2026 season. It’s likely. But if he doesn’t, former NFL Scout John Middlekauff would be stunned.

“Maybe (McCarthy’s) just saying this, but I think it’s fair to believe him,” he said. “I think he likes him a lot. So, I think it’s pretty clear, that if I was a betting man, because it’s like, well who are their quarterbacks, that Will Howard is gonna be the backup, and Aaron Rodgers is gonna be a starter.

“And based on a guy being over 40, there is no guarantee. And we just saw last year, he broke his hand, and Aaron Rodgers no longer moves at all. Like, Will Howard is probably gonna get some starts in 2026. I’d be stunned if he doesn’t play in 2026.”

The Steelers drafted Howard out of Ohio State in 2025. The 24-year-old spent his first four seasons in Kansas, where he went 15-12 before transferring to Ohio State in 2024. For the Buckeyes, Howard recorded the best season of his collegiate career, having recorded 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns.

While he didn’t get an opportunity to play in his rookie year, that might not be the case next season. Of course, Aaron Rodgers will be the Steelers’ first choice. And if he does return, Howard will compete for the backup role with Mason Rudolph. But if Rodgers doesn’t return, expect Howard to get the starting nod at some point the next season.

Roethlisberger, meanwhile, doesn’t think just starting with Howard would be enough for the Steelers. In his conversation, the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback urged the Steelers to sign his former backup for Howard ahead of the 2026 season.

Ben Roethlisberger urges the Steelers to sign Joshua Dobbs

Last week, Ben Roethlisberger sat down on the latest episode of the Deebo & Joe podcast and urged the Steelers to sign one of his former backup quarterbacks, Joshua Dobbs. Addressing the need if Rodgers doesn’t return, he said:

“Here’s something I would consider that happened recently. Josh Dobbs just got released by New England. I would strongly, if Aaron is not coming back, I’d love to bring a veteran guy in like Dobbs, who’s been here. Obviously a new system, not the same coaching staff, but bring a veteran guy in.”

The Steelers drafted Dobbs in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft with the 135th overall pick. He played with Roethlisberger, serving as his backup, from 2017 to 2019 and then again from 2020 to 2021. Fast forward to now, and after a one-year stint with the New England Patriots, Dobbs is available in the market.

This week, Roethlisberger has reiterated his stance on signing Dobbs. The Steelers legend believes that Dobbs could work as Howard’s mentor in case Rodgers doesn’t return to play under Mike McCarthy. He said:

“I said in the Deebo & Joe Show, I would love Josh Dobbs to come back here…Get a veteran guy here to compete with those guys. He was such a great helper to me, and he goes on the long list of great, I hate to call him backup quarterbacks, but like assistant quarterbacks that assisted me in so many ways.”

Appearing in 27 games and starting 15, Dobbs has recorded 3,346 yards and 17 touchdowns, while having a 3-12 record. While nothing is concrete, for Roethlisberger, the 31-year-old could be a good veteran presence to develop Will Howard with Rodgers’ uncertainty looming.