The Pittsburgh Steelers have been very clear when asked about 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard. The new coaching staff and front office appear to have high hopes for the signal-caller, but a little wrinkle was thrown in after the team selected Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The two quarterbacks could absolutely one day be fighting it out to win the starting job, which has fans in the Steel City rather excited. The organization got its first look at the Penn State product recently, as the rookie minicamp was held not too long ago.
Taylor Allison / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterback Drew Allar stands alongside head coach Mike McCarthy as the two go over some feedback during the team's 2026 rookie minicamp in Pittsburgh, PA.
Aaron Rodgers is still expected to be the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2026, but it could be a different story a year from now. The franchise could look to take another signal-caller, or simply let Howard and Allar battle for the top spot. Regardless, that could be a little while away, so it is important to pay attention to the small things while the two are waiting in the wings.
Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette held his weekly fan chat on Tuesday and was peppered with several questions about the team's rookie class. Allar got a chance to prove himself during rookie minicamp, as he was the only quarterback present for the sessions. This got the best of him, however, as the beat writer noticed some serious fatigue.
"It was everyone's first look at Allar. Here's what I noticed: he was absolutely gassed taking all the reps in the Saturday morning practice we got to view," Fittipaldo wrote. "He talked about it afterward and so did Mike McCarthy, who said it was by design."
While this may have been planned for Allar, a grueling 17+ game season is going to be hard for anyone to get through if that individual has a tough time going through 35 practice reps or so. It's extremely early for the rookie, but this is something that should be paid attention to as the months come and go. Being a first-year player does not give someone an excuse to potentially be a bit out of shape.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterback Drew Allar walks on the practice field with a smile on his face as he goes through drills as the team's rookie minicamp is being held in Pittsburgh, PA.
It is fair to note that this was the quarterback's first true taste of NFL action in any aspect. Head Coach Mike McCarthy apparently really wanted to test him out. It's not like being slightly out of shape currently will define his career, but it could serve as a wake-up call for him to pay attention to his endurance as he prepares for what will likely be a grueling training camp and preseason.
It's not the time to make full-on judgments about any of the rookies, and Fittipaldo made that clear; but, he did mention that a lot of the offensive staff consistently had eyes on the young signal-caller.
"You're right. You can't make assumptions after one weekend, but my biggest takeaway was how closely McCarthy and the other coaches watched him," Fittipaldo noted. "He sometimes had three or four sets of eyes on him in drills -- McCarthy, QBs Coach Tom Arth, Frank Cignetti and of course, new OC Brian Angelichio."
Allar is going to get his chance to prove himself to the Steelers' brass. That may not come full circle in 2026 if Rodgers is around, but he was taken in the third round for a reason. Howard, on the other hand, didn't get one chance to play in an NFL contest during his rookie year, so the two are essentially on the same playing field moving forward.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Will Howard gets ready to unleash a pass as he runs through a drill as the team works out during the annual Friday Night Lights practice in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Seem To Have A Lot Of Intrigue For Their Two Young QBs
At some point, fans in Pittsburgh will get to watch Howard and/or Allar play in meaningful football games. Rodgers is expected to run the show in 2026, but there's no way to predict how the 2027 NFL Draft can pan out. Regardless, the Steelers are not going to not give the two young arms chances to show that they have what it takes to be the next franchise guy in the Steel City.
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