Pittsburgh Steelers See Big Upside In QB Drew Allar’s Arm Talent

The Pittsburgh Steelers added another youthful option to their quarterback room on Friday, selecting Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft with pick No. 79.

Beyond Allar, the Steelers’ current quarterback depth chart consists of veteran Mason Rudolph and Ohio State product Will Howard, who’s entering his second season. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported that the Steelers remain confident that Aaron Rodgers, who’s still unsigned, will return to the franchise for a second season.

Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said that the situation with Rodgers had no bearing on Allar being selected.

“This is about developing the room and trying to make the room as deep as we possibly can,” McCarthy said on Saturday.

Why The Pittsburgh Steelers Drafted QB Drew Allar

Allar started 35 games for Penn State with a 26-9 record. In all, Allar had 7,402 career passing yards, 61 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with a 63.2% completion rate. And while Allar doesn’t have blazing speed (ran a 4.72 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine), he rushed for 732 yards and 12 scores. Heading into the 2025 season, Allar was considered a potential Heisman candidate but would miss the final seven games for Penn State with an ankle injury.

Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth spoke about Allar’s strengths.

“He’s 6-5, 235 pounds and he has big hands,” Arth said, per Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports. “I think what’s most exciting when you’re talking about the quarterback position is can this guy throw the football and I think he throws it as well as any quarterback in this draft class. He has an effortless arm. He can make every single throw on the field and he’s a better athlete than I think he’s given credit for.”

Mike McCarthy gave a similar evaluation about what Allar brings to the franchise.

“I liked everything about him,” McCarthy said. “I think he’s young. I think he’s got a lot of room for growth. And he’s a young man that can throw the ball with the best of them, and that’s a great starting point to have.”

Beyond Allar’s arm talent, he’s been highly efficient and rarely makes major mistakes that lead to turnovers. Per Steelers team reporter Teresa Varley, Allar is the only FBS quarterback since 1956 with over 900 career pass attempts, over 50 touchdown passes with 12 or fewer interceptions.

While Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh in 2026 seems like a probable scenario, drafting Allar has more to do with pushing Will Howard and Mason Rudolph on the depth chart. If Allar excels, there’s a chance he can one day become Pittsburgh’s starter. It could also bring the best out of Will Howard and push him to new heights. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Pittsburgh is open to trading Mason Rudolph, thus it soon could be Howard and Allar as the only options at quarterback as Aaron Rodgers still decides whether he returns or retires.

McCarthy has a positive attitude about Pittsburgh’s quarterback room and what he expects to get from it.

“I will coach the hell out of that room. I have a lot of confidence,” McCarthy said. “I have history and experience that I will give everything I can to any quarterback in that room.”

Allar will need to be developed by McCarthy, but there’s enough size, arm talent and success at the college level to suggest that Allar has starting-caliber abilities. It just may take a year or two for that progression to take place.