Drew Allar delivered impressive performances during his second and third years at Penn State. However, his final collegiate season proved detrimental to his prospects.
Allar participated in merely six matchups owing to a fractured ankle, and his performance was insufficient to convince professional scouts to elevate his standing on draft lists.
Despite this, Allar secured a reasonably favorable placement. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him as the 12th choice in the third round, marking him as the 76th overall pick. Hailing from Ohio and a childhood supporter of the Cleveland Browns, Allar now finds himself with their direct competitor. This position in Pittsburgh might soon feature a vacancy at the quarterback role. While the Steelers anticipate securing Aaron Rodgers this offseason to commence play in 2026, his entry into his 43rd year suggests he could potentially step down following any campaign.
If Allar will ultimately fill that role is yet uncertain. He requires significant progression to reach a stage where he might be considered a reliable starting player. Nevertheless, the Steelers invested a significant draft selection in him. The Pittsburgh organization will require an individual to assume the position once Rodgers concludes his tenure. Pittsburgh previously selected Will Howard in the prior year’s sixth round and has spoken highly of him this offseason, yet their decision to choose Allar, who possesses some promising attributes despite being a developmental prospect, indicates a lack of complete conviction in Howard.
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Allar’s concluding collegiate year at Penn State was cut short by an ankle ailment. (Image courtesy of Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
(Isaiah Vazquez via Getty Images)
Allar possesses the physical stature suitable for the NFL and a powerful throwing arm, additionally demonstrating notable athletic capability throughout his time at Penn State. However, his principal challenges have been maintaining uniform performance and precision. This particular weakness was apparent prior to the previous season, and he failed to exhibit sufficient progress in these critical aspects across his concluding half-dozen collegiate appearances.
The favorable aspect for Allar as he transitions to the professional league is his possession of the requisite physical attributes to sustain a lengthy career. While he has considerable efforts ahead to polish his skillset, he will not face the immediate imperative for rapid advancement that would have accompanied an earlier draft selection.
Allar represents another in a line of physically gifted quarterbacks chosen in the draft, with the expectation that he will cultivate his abilities to align with his powerful throwing arm and substantial physique. He ought to be afforded a period for this growth within the Pittsburgh organization.
