The Pittsburgh Steelers have been trying to figure out their long-term plan at quarterback since they failed to find much success with Kenny Pickett. They have tried with multiple aging veterans, but none have been able to stick. The organization decided to take a gamble on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Allar is a huge project, but his traits leave him oozing with potential to be a franchise quarterback. There's no guarantee that he will become anything substantial in the NFL, but it's an optimistic gamble. Perhaps with the right coaching, he will be able to put everything together.
Kirby Lee / Imagn Images
Steelers' Drew Allar goes through drills at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2026.
What makes this attempt at a long-term quarterback solution great is Allar's youth. The Steelers tried other younger guys like Justin Fields, but they did not work out. The franchise then pivoted to veterans Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, who are much older. While they still wait for Rodgers, Allar will likely be the team's long-term plan and will be brought up the right way, not being forced to play early. He will also have a good starting spot, with a known quarterback guru like Mike McCarthy as his head coach, and the potential of sitting behind Rodgers.
NFL analyst Ben Solak recently appeared on The Mina Kimes Show, where they discussed the controversy over the selection of Allar. Neither of the two is a fan of his game, believing he won't be able to live up to his potential. Solak compares Allar to his fellow teammate Mason Rudolph, who, like him, was drafted by the Steelers in the third round. Rudolph was also seen as a project coming out of college, but he never amounted to being a starter-level QB, let alone a franchise signal-caller.
"You know whose name I have written down for my Drew Allar [comparison]? Mason Rudolph," said Solak. "They just cannot stop drafting the exact same... Just enormous statues that don't actually make throws with the arms they are purported to have."
While Allar has immense potential, there's not a ton of film to back the theory that he can put it all together. He struggled mightily in big games, throwing a crushing, game-ending interception in the College Football Semifinal game against Notre Dame. He also struggles with his accuracy, displaying inconsistent footwork. Allar's development will definitely take time and he will need to serve as the team's QB2 or QB3 for a season or two before being thrown into a starting role. He should learn as much as he possibly can behind the veterans ahead of him currently.
Matthew O'Haren / USA TODAY Sports
Former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar prepares to throw a football as he warms up prior to the team competing in a collegiate football event.
The preseason will be a great time to watch Allar's progression. This is not necessarily for the competition, but to observe the consistency of his footwork and the way he goes through his progressions. In the NFL, his mental clock will need to be much faster. He needs to be able to do things consistently if he wants to be successful. The preseason will be a big timeframe for him to work on that.
Steelers Need To Get More Out Of Allar Than They Did With Rudolph
The Steelers drafted Rudolph in 2018 after Ben Roethlisberger was flirting with the idea of retirement. Rudolph was an insurance plan just in case, and in 2019, he had an audition to be the team's long-term starter. The team would miss the playoffs that season with an 8-8 record.
Christian Petersen / Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Devlin 'Duck' Hodges (left) and Mason Rudolph (right) held down the fort at quarterback in 2019 after Ben Roethlisberger's Week 2 injury at home against the Seattle Seahawks.
Rudolph would get another chance in 2023 and lit up the scoreboard. He helped give the Steelers their best production from a quarterback in years during the last three games of the regular season. He decided to leave in free agency however, but then re-signed the following offseason.
#SteelerNation