The Pittsburgh Steelers went into the 2026 NFL Draft with a strong possibility of drafting a quarterback, and that came to fruition in the third round as the organization selected Drew Allar out of Penn State. He was drafted with the 76th overall pick, which was the selection the Steelers received from the Dallas Cowboys after trading away George Pickens during the 2025 offseason. This is going to be viewed as a polarizing pick as Allar was heavily criticized throughout his college career. He was under fire for not performing in big games, and he also had a down year overall in 2025.
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Former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar prepares to throw a football as he warms up prior to the team competing in a collegiate football event.
Pittsburgh's quarterback situation is one of the most talked about position groups in the NFL. The main reason for that is the mystery surrounding Aaron Rodgers and whether or not he will be returning for the 2026 season.
Will Howard is also in the quarterback room, and there has been a ton of hype and excitement surrounding him and the possibility that he could start in 2026. Allar now joins that mix, and his new quarterbacks coach Tom Arth spoke to the media after the pick was made. He was asked if the team selecting Allar is going to have any sort of impact on Rodgers' decision to return to the franchise.
"I don't know." Arth said. "I don't believe that has any impact on Aaron. Certainly we're here for Drew. Excited about his moment, and excited to have him in this room."
The selection of Allar is not expected to play any sort of role in Rodgers deciding to return to the Steelers, and it seems like Pittsburgh would still welcome him back with open arms. He already accepted the mentor role with Howard in 2025, and maybe he would be willing to do the same thing again with both young quarterbacks in 2026. Him playing in front of both Howard and Allar could help the Steelers a ton in the long run.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Rodgers signed with Pittsburgh right before mandatory minicamp during the 2025 offseason, and the expectation is that something similar is going to happen once again. Fans were hoping he would have signed back with the organization already, but that has not happened. Howard was able to get more reps during voluntary minicamp, which is considered to be a good thing, especially now that another quarterback is being introduced into the mix.
Allar is considered to be a raw talent. He has all the tools that a successful starter in the NFL would need, but he is going to have to develop more as a pure passer. He can be sloppy in the pocket, and that is something he will need to work on moving forward if he wants to find success in the NFL. Arth will be in charge of that, and it is also important to note that Head Coach Mike McCarthy is known for his abilities to develop the quarterback position.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new Head Coach Mike McCarthy (middle) takes picture with Team Owner Art Rooney II (left) and General Manager Omar Khan (right).
Steelers Have An Odd Man Out In The Quarterback Room
The addition of Allar to the roster is not going play a major role when it comes to Rodgers' status in Pittsburgh, but Mason Rudolph is a different story. The veteran quarterback has proven time and time again that he is nothing more than a backup in the NFL, and he might be viewed as a trade candidate if Rodgers were to sign another contract in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers won't carry four quarterbacks in the regular season, and Rudolph is certainly the odd man out of the bunch. Howard and Allar will both make the roster, and Rodgers would only sign if he was going to be the starter.
What do you think of these comments from Arth? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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