Big Ben" Blasted Omar Khan for Drafting Will Howard Over Shedeur Sanders

Pittsburgh, PA – May 8, 2025. A Pittsburgh Steelers legend has unleashed a torrent of criticism on general manager Omar Khan, igniting a firestorm over the team’s 2025 NFL Draft strategy. The decision to bypass a highly touted quarterback prospect in favor of a late-round pick has drawn the ire of one of the franchise’s most iconic figures.

Ben Roethlisberger, the two-time Super Bowl champion known as “Big Ben,” targeted Khan for selecting Ohio State quarterback Will Howard with the 185th pick in the sixth round. Howard, who threw for 2,848 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2024, represents a developmental project rather than an immediate solution.

Roethlisberger’s outrage stems from the Steelers’ failure to draft Shedeur Sanders, a top-rated quarterback who stunningly fell to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns snagged him at pick 144. Sanders’ 74% completion rate and poise under pressure made him a coveted prospect for a team desperate for a franchise quarterback.

The Steelers, mired in an eight-year playoff win drought, face uncertainty with Mason Rudolph as their interim starter and Skylar Thompson as a backup. Howard’s dual-threat potential, including 433 rushing yards last season, offers long-term hope but lacks the polish of Sanders, fueling Roethlisberger’s frustration.

Pittsburgh’s $2 million cap and the loss of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields forced tough choices, but passing on Sanders for a sixth-rounder has Steeler Nation questioning Khan’s vision. Roethlisberger’s public rebuke, aired on his Footbahlin podcast, called the move a “colossal misstep” for a team needing a spark.

Fan reactions on X mirror the divide, with some defending Howard’s upside and others echoing Roethlisberger’s dismay over missing Sanders. The 19th-ranked offense, reliant on DK Metcalf and Kaleb Johnson, now hinges on Rudolph, with Howard years away from starting.

Roethlisberger’s blistering critique underscores Pittsburgh’s quarterback crisis, amplified by a draft that prioritized defense with Derrick Harmon and running back depth with Johnson. As Khan navigates a tight cap, the Howard pick risks haunting a franchise yearning for its next great signal-caller.

The fallout from this decision looms large, with Steeler Nation bracing for a pivotal 2025 season. Whether Howard defies the odds or Sanders shines in Cleveland, Roethlisberger’s words have cast a long shadow, challenging Khan to prove his gamble was worth the cost.