Steelers' Possible QB Draft Target Has Been Exploited In Big Games

The Pittsburgh Steelers come into the 2026 NFL season with QB drama similar to 2025. The team is living out a Groundhog Day scenario, awaiting their veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers' career decision. Currently on the roster, the Steelers have now-veteran QB Mason Rudolph, who knows the team's system well. However, he isn't a high-quality, long-term option for the franchise. Rudolph remains a solid backup for the team, but is not a Band-Aid quarterback, nor a player for the future. Finally, the roster includes Will Howard, who has yet to see any NFL action. Despite this, the team seems to have some confidence in him. Either way, the Steelers are not out of the mix to draft a quarterback, and some key information on one of their targets has the Steelers hesitant. 

The Steelers come into the NFL Draft with a QB room full of inexperience and uncertainty. The team is big on Howard, even though the second-year signal-caller hasn't touched the field yet. With the Steelers potentially having 12 picks (with compensatory pick projections), the team could look to add another young QB to the fold. One name that has come up is Penn State QB Drew Allar. 

Allar showed flashes of greatness in Happy Valley. However, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac exposes some knowledge on the young prospect. 

"He's still the QB who underperforms badly in big games. Unlike what Will Howard did," said Dulac. 

Pittsburgh seems very confident in its young QB, Howard, and Allar's performances in big games may deter them from calling his name on draft night. Allar had a strong 2024, where he threw for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns. However, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in October of the 2025 season that left him sidelined. Allar struggled with shoulder issues throughout the season, also. Penn State had a down year, where now-former head coach James Franklin was fired. Allar and the Nittany Lions came up short in a lot of big games, hence why the Steelers may be hesitant to draft him. 

Allar proved to be a liability when it mattered most. In the three conference games Allar played in 2025, he struggled at times. The quarterback's numbers did not jump off the stat sheet, and there were some iffy throws and reads at times. In 2024's Big Ten Conference Championship, Allar had a weak 51.3% completion percentage and threw two interceptions in a game that the Nittany Lions would go on to lose. The same mediocre play would hold true in the CFP Semifinals against Notre Dame. The quarterback threw for a mere 135 yards with no touchdowns and an interception; PSU would lose that game 24-27. 

Is Will Howard Really Better Than The Entire 2026 QB Draft Class?

As mentioned previously, the Steelers would be more confident in Howard's big game ability as opposed to Allar's potential struggles on the big stage. Allar has a lot of intangibles that could lead the team to like what they see. He has a big arm, stands at 6'5", and weighs 235 lbs. The size is there, but the big game ability isn't consistent. Howard showed on multiple occasions that he's capable of leading the charge in big games. After all, he is a CFP champion. 

In games on the biggest stage, Howard seemed calm, cool, and collected. In the 2024 CFP, Howard looked amazing. In the first round against Tennessee, Howard threw for 311 yards and had a completion percentage of an astonishing 82.8%. In the biggest game in college football, Howard had two passing touchdowns and another efficient passing day with an 81% completion rate. Howard is not afraid of the big stage, and this trait sets him above a player like Allar.  The Steelers feel that these qualities can carry Howard, and this may be why the team decides not to draft a quarterback at all. These qualities set him apart from the rest of the class, besides the consensus #1 pick, Fernando Mendoza, of course. The Steelers feel confident in their young QB, and the stats prove why.

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