The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in an odd spot when it comes to the quarterback position. Every offseason, the fan base is hoping that there is some way for the franchise to find its quarterback of the future, but that seemed unlikely heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. The quarterback class was viewed as weak, but the organization still did its homework on some of the players that were considered to be mid-round selections. Pittsburgh showed interest in players like Cole Payton and Carson Beck, but Drew Allar wound up being the pick with the team's first selection in the third round.
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Steelers quarterback Drew Allar walks out on stage during the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers drafted Allar with the 75th overall pick, and he has all of the raw tools to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. He has received some Josh Allen comparisons as he has a big arm and is extremely athletic and mobile, but the young player has a long way to go before he can reach that level. His final season of college football at Penn State was disappointing, both for him individually and for the Nittany Lions as a whole. He went down with a season-ending ankle injury, and it was going to be difficult for him to improve his draft stock from that point. He was projected by many to be a first-round pick before the 2026 season began.
Allar's stock fell, but the Steelers still felt like taking a chance on him. The pick has been praised by some and hated by others, but draft analyst Bucky Brooks believes it is the perfect team-to-prospect fit, mainly due to Head Coach Mike McCarthy. He mentioned this in a recent article.
"It is hard to count on a third-round pick to emerge as a QB1, but Mike McCarthy's magic touch could transform Allar into a credible starter down the road," Brooks wrote. "Allar enters the NFL with prototypical physical dimensions, elite arm talent and a wealth of experience as a starter at a championship-caliber program. The marriage between the former five-star recruit and the proven quarterback developer can potentially lead to very good things for the Steelers."
It has been reported that a big reason for McCarthy being hired in Pittsburgh was his background when it came to developing quarterbacks, and now he has a pair of quarterbacks on the roster to focus on in Allar and Will Howard. He has spoken highly of both players.
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Steelers quarterback Will Howard gets ready to unleash a pass as he runs through a drill as the team works out during the annual Friday Night Lights practice in Latrobe, PA.
Brooks also mentioned McCarthy's background with players ranging from Joe Montana to Dak Prescott, with Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre also being included. It is an impressive resume when it comes to the quarterback position, and hopefully Allar or Howard can turn into one of these star quarterbacks.
The analyst seems to give Allar the edge over Howard. Allar is the former five star recruit that has all of the tangible traits when it comes to being a starting quarterback in the league. McCarthy just needs to figure out how to refine his skills.
Steelers' Drew Allar Is Going To Need Time
The fan base in Pittsburgh is very impatient when it comes to quarterback play, and Allar is going to need to be given some grace. Thankfully, it seems likely that Aaron Rodgers will return to start for the team, which will give both Allar and Howard some time to develop and get some more reps under their belts.
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Steelers' new quarterback Drew Allar during his time with Penn State in the 2025 season.
The likelihood that either quarterback turns into the franchise quarterback for the Steelers is probably pretty low, but it is exciting to have some young prospects in Pittsburgh that could potentially turn the position around.
What do you think about Brooks' comments on Allar joining the Steelers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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