The Pittsburgh Steelers should be looking closely at quarterback options to replace Ben Roethlisberger but Sam Howell should get crossed off the list.
Sam Howell entered the year as one of the top draft-eligible quarterbacks along with Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler, but he’s had a rocky season and teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers shouldn’t look at him as a successor to Ben Roethlisberger.
The game between Wake Forest and North Carolina turned into the “Battle of the Sams” as Sam Hartman of the Demon Deacons and Howell of the Tar Heels traded points back and forth.
The trouble for Howell is he wasn’t the best Sam on the field. Hartman was with five passing and two rushing touchdowns. Howell’s rushing attack ended up being the difference in the game to give UNC the win, but Howell didn’t look like an answer to life after Roethlisberger.
Ben Roethlisberger replacement: Sam Howell isn’t it for Steelers
That’s not to say Howell was bad. He had a touchdown through the air while giving Wake Forest fits with his legs partway through the fourth quarter. He ran for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Howell doesn’t look like the prospect he was going into the season. He’s definitely not the best quarterback in the ACC, trailing Hartman and Pitt’s Kenny Pickett in production and victories this year. Liberty’s Malik Willis and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral project as better options too.
He has a strong arm, so scouts will keep looking his way. At the same time, he hasn’t shown the leadership or game management to suggest he knows how to win consistently at the top level. An arm without the “it” factor doesn’t usually work out in the pros.
There will be added interest given his success running the ball. However, he’s a physical runner and that won’t fly full-time in the NFL. The risk of injury is too high.
The Steelers will have a lot of options when it comes to finding a new quarterback in the NFL Draft.
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