The Pittsburgh Steelers made a big choice when they selected former Penn State Nittany Lions football quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Allar was taken with the No. 76 overall pick, a move that signaled that Mike McCarthy wanted a quarterback he could develop from the ground up. While much of the offseason attention remains focused on what could happen with Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh’s quarterback room is already one of the league’s most fascinating storylines.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks down at his play sheet while he watches practice in street clothes as the team works out during 2025 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers suddenly have a crowded and intriguing mix under center with Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and now Allar all competing for their place in the future. Rudolph brings experience and familiarity, Howard offers upside as a young developmental option, and Allar enters as the highest-upside investment of the group. Even without clarity on Rodgers, Pittsburgh has quietly built a quarterback situation worth watching closely throughout training camp and preseason.
That intrigue only grew after Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner shared his thoughts on Allar before the draft. Warner called Allar the most intriguing prospect in the 2026 class because of his physical tools, arm strength, and untapped ceiling. He even suggested Allar could eventually be viewed as one of the biggest steals of the entire draft when fans look back years from now, making Pittsburgh’s third-round gamble look even more interesting.
"Now when you watch him, you may say he is the most gifted thrower in this entire draft, even ahead of [Fernando] Mendoza and [Ty] Simpson who I do know are ranked way higher," Warner said when looking at his film. "He is a naturally gifted thrower with a big arm. There is not a throw on the football field that this guy can’t make. It’s going to intrigue a lot of scouts to say, 'Hey, we believe with this talent we can turn this guy into a superstar at the next level.'"
At one point roughly two seasons ago, Allar was viewed as a generational talent, but some poor decisions in big games really hurt his draft stock. That, coupled with the season-ending injury he suffered during the 2025 college football season, caused his value to slip.
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Steelers quarterback Drew Allar walks out on stage during the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
For the Steelers, though, that slide ended up working out perfectly. It gave McCarthy, a known quarterback developer, the chance to land a raw prospect with an incredibly high ceiling at tremendous value.
"So obviously the talent jumps off the screen when you watch this guy throw," Warner said in regards to Allar’s rare talent. "It is effortless for him to push the football down the field. One of the questions always with a big-arm quarterback is can they control that big arm and become consistently accurate as a thrower. If so, this guy could end up becoming the steal of this draft. He could become the best quarterback in this class, but that is a big if."
It almost feels similar to when the Indianapolis Colts drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. The difference is Indianapolis reached for Richardson at a premium spot, betting heavily on rare physical tools and upside. While it is still too early to label him a bust, he has not yet looked like the franchise-changing star the Colts hoped for.
Steelers Stole Drew Allar In 2026 NFL Draft
The thought process with Richardson was clear. He was an elite athlete with uncommon arm talent who could become a high-level quarterback under the right development. But quarterback growth is rarely that simple, and talent alone does not guarantee success at the next level. That same boom-or-bust element exists with Allar.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Drew Allar speaking with the media.
The key difference for Pittsburgh is value. The Steelers did not have to spend a first-round pick to take that swing, landing Allar in the third round where the risk is much lower. Now he can compete alongside Howard, and if Rodgers joins the team for 2026, even better, as he could help mentor both young quarterbacks. If Rodgers does not come, though, Pittsburgh’s quarterback battle could quickly become one of the most fascinating storylines in the league.
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