The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in limbo when it comes to the quarterback position, and the franchise has been trying to figure things out each offseason. The organization has had a different Week 1 starter in five consecutive seasons, and that trend is looking to come to an end as Aaron Rodgers may return to be the starter in 2026. The veteran quarterback is still deciding on what to do with his future, while Head Coach Mike McCarthy has been focused on the developmental quarterbacks on the roster in Will Howard and Drew Allar.
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Steelers' Mike McCarthy looks on during rookie minicamp during the 2026 offseason.
There has been a ton of excitement over the last two years when it comes to Howard and what he can potentially become. He was a sixth-round pick in 2025, but the expectations are much higher than that. It is going to be hard for him to make much noise in Pittsburgh now that the franchise has drafted Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Allar was always thought to be a top prospect, but he struggled to put everything together during his time at Penn State. Beat writer Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Monday morning to share what he saw from the young quarterback during rookie minicamp.
"That arm strength, that arm action, like the coaches, scouts say, spinning it, it's elite man," Kaboly said. "It just jumps. You watch this in minicamp for 25 years now, and you see certain people throw, then you see him throw, you're like, 'Jesus.' I've never seen a spiral like that. Every single one is tight. If there was spin rate on the ball, it would be off the charts. Obviously, if you go strictly off arm strength, then JaMarcus Russell would be a Hall of Famer. There's more to it all. I just was fascinated."
Kaboly usually likes to stay rather conservative when discussing what he sees from young players, but he was not shy in showing his amazement from what he saw from Allar. He made sure to note that the young quarterback still has a long way to go when it comes to being a successful starter, but he seems to be working with a good foundation.
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Steelers' Drew Allar goes through a photoshoot with the team after being drafted in the third round in 2026.
Allar is viewed as a relatively raw prospect. He has all of the physical tools, but he has struggled with accuracy and his decision-making. This is where McCarthy comes into play as a quarterback guru. Allar and the coach have said that they are starting from scratch. That means retooling Allar's mechanics, form, and footwork. Kaboly believes this could give Allar a legitimate chance.
"First of all, you have three people surrounding him at all times," Kaboly said. "Including mostly with the head coach. If he is what he is supposed to be, or what he is billed at, Mike McCarthy, as a quarterback whisperer, I think Drew Allar has a legit chance. He has everything else. You can see why they fell in love with him."
The pairing of Allar and McCarthy is what should give fans some optimism. McCarthy is well-respected around the NFL as a quarterback guru, and now he gets to try to develop Allar. He was seen near Allar for nearly all of both practices, and the coach is clearly putting a ton of work into the young quarterback.
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Steelers QB Drew Allar holds the football during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Steelers Fans Must Be Patient With Drew Allar
The fact that the coaching staff is completely tearing down Allar's form, footwork, and everything else means that fans probably won't see him on the field in 2026. It would be irresponsible to make a quarterback relearn everything and then throw him onto an NFL field so soon. It would make more sense if Howard were the backup to Rodgers, while Allar was the emergency third quarterback throughout the season.
What do you think about these comments from Kaboly? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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