Steelers Make Bold Move And Take Penn State QB Drew Allar In 3rd Round Of 2026 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear sense of direction as the event continues in the Steel City. Now led by Head Coach Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh is operating with a slightly different tone than years past, but the core philosophy remains intact. Physical football, smart roster building, and finding players who can contribute right away is of the most importance. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan tried to draft Makai Lemon, but the Philadelphia Eagles sniped him in Round 1 and they drafted Max Iheanachor instead.

In the second round, the Steelers traded up to pick 47 to draft Germie Bernard. Now, as the third round has started, the Steelers made their move to select Drew Allar, quarterback out of Penn State, 76th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s important to remember that this is the pick the Steelers received back for George Pickens in the trade when they sent him away in the 2025 offseason.

Leading up to this moment, Pittsburgh has done extensive work on prospects who fit what McCarthy wants to build. There has been a noticeable emphasis on players with experience, discipline, and the ability to adapt quickly to the NFL level. 

Many were curious if Pittsburgh was going to take a quarterback in this draft. It turns out they did earlier than many expected, while also taking a risk on a player like Allar. He has had moments of greatness, but at times on the big stage he has flamed out in the eyes of many pundits.

The Steelers are now waiting to find out what is going to happen with Aaron Rodgers. Many assumed he would be their quarterback for the 2026 season, but new rumors suggest he may not return to the NFL and could retire instead. If that ends up being the case, the Steelers suddenly find themselves in a much different situation than expected. 

If Rodgers does walk away, Pittsburgh will be forced to fully embrace a youth movement at the position. That could mean turning the offense over to inexperienced options and living with the growing pains that come with it, rather than relying on a veteran presence to stabilize things early in the year. Of course many within Steeler Nation believe that may be for the best anway.

In that scenario, the Steelers would have two young quarterbacks they can try to develop under McCarthy in Allar and Will Howard, giving them a foundation to build around for the future even if the short-term outlook becomes far less certain.

Steelers QB Situation Is Going To Dominate Headlines

The Steelers quarterback situation is going to generate massive headlines in the coming months. With McCarthy known for developing young quarterback talent, he now has two intriguing opportunities in Allar and Howard. Both bring real value and experience from playing in big college games, even if their paths were different. 

Allar was once viewed as a potential first-round pick before sliding to the third round. The Steelers may have found their future on Friday night, or at the very least sparked a youth movement worth watching. At worst, they wasted a day 2 pick in a draft where they had a dozen picks. It's a win-win for the Steelers no matter how you look at it.

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