NFL Draft Profile 2026: Drew Allar (Quarterback, Penn State)

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 04, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 NFL Draft is in Pittsburgh! This draft season, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital, and their fit with the Steelers.

The Steelers currently have only two quarterbacks on the roster in Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. Although all signs point to Aaron Rodgers returning to the Steelers for another year, it still makes sense for the Steelers to invest in a quarterback.

The basics on Drew Allar

• Position: Quarterback
• Class: Senior
• Size: Height 6 ‘ 5 , 228 pounds, 323/4” arms, 795/8” wingspan
• Age: 22 (03-08-2004)
• Projected draft round: Late day 2- day 3

Stats via Pro Football Reference

Drew Allar scouting report

Project quarterbacks have become quite the touchy subject in NFL Draft circles. The ultimate example of someone with all of the intangibles and athleticism that needed major refinement in the passing game is Buffalo’s Josh Allen. Of course, for every Josh Allen, there are plenty of Anthony Richardson’s and Trey Lance’s that prove there is more than just size and athleticism to playing quarterback in the NFL. This draft cycle, Penn State’s Drew Allar, is the quarterback with prototypical size and arm talent, is the one NFL evaluators are trying to determine just how high his ceiling is.

Drew Allar should definitely return to school, but I wouldn't personally be opposed to him entering the draft pic.twitter.com/qFES4yAN4h

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) January 1, 2025

Allar was a five-star prospect out of Medina High School in Ohio. The quarterback used all four years of his eligibility at the same school, which has become a rarity in the NIL era of collegiate athletics. His biggest jump in development came from his sophomore to junior year. Allar got a new offensive coordinator in Andy Kotelnicki. In this offense, the decisions were made well ahead of time for Allar. It was an RPO-dependent offense that had Allar make quick reads and get the ball out of his hands quickly. He saw jumps in all of passing stats and displayed an ability to win within the structure that his offense provided for him.

Since 2023, Drew Allar leads the FBS with 38 3rd/4th down conversions on in-breaking routes. #1 selling point for Allar besides the arm talent imo, he could find these backside digs with a blindfold on pic.twitter.com/A8s6s4QtWk

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) July 15, 2025

Although the support system and offensive scheme allowed Allar to flourish, I don’t want to make it sound like he can’t win from out of structure. Allar had the ability to audible and make quality pre-snap reads for the Nittany Lions. However, it is hard to deny the fact that when Allar faced quality competition, he saw a major decline in production.

With Drew Allar, you have a field general under center. Can make pre-snap checks and cue motions. You can execute action rollouts and move the pocket with him. And his easy velocity and angle freedom enables him to layer quick-hitting passes when in-rhythm. pic.twitter.com/eV41kNVbat

— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) May 5, 2025

According to PFF, the three lowest-graded passing games of Allar’s career came against Notre Dame in 2024, and Michigan and Ohio State in 2023. I’m willing to give Allar a pass for the 2023 contests, given the fact that it was his first season as a full-time starter, but he seems to have doubts about what he sees on the field at times.

Under pressure, Allar has poor footwork. I would not call Allar bad at extending plays, but when he was required to play outside of structure in 2024, he often got caught floating passes while making his reads. When he is surveying the field, he has enough awareness to know the pocket is collapsing around him, but he has the tendency to search for the big play and force throws.

This play is a good encapsulation of both Drew Allar's areas for improvement and his '24 supporting cast's restrictions.

When Tyler Warren's not available, Allar has to try and force it elsewhere. Late hip alignment adjustment under pressure. Ill-fated anticipation attempt. INT. pic.twitter.com/zaPwlQJbT3

— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) May 5, 2025

It is important to keep in mind that you are drafting Allar with the idea that he could become someone who has the ability to deliver some otherworldly throws, which he has plenty of on tape.

Play of the Day No. 7: Penn State quarterback Drew Allar throws a touchdown against Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game while being dragged down by his shirt. (Penn State vs. Oregon, 2024). #POTDpic.twitter.com/jSimhpR90H

— Sam Teets (@Sam_Teets33) February 26, 2025

Allar suffered an ankle injury that cut his senior year short. This prevented Allar from participating in many pre-draft events like the Senior Bowl and testing at the NFL Combine. He was able to throw to receivers at the combine in March and display his arm talent to scouts, reminding everyone what they are getting when they take a shot on him.

Penn State football as a whole took a major step back in 2025. Allar’s problems all seemed to come to light in big-time situations. Allar went from being a fairly highly thought of prospect to a question mark.

All of this being said, it’s easy to see why teams could be willing to take a shot on Allar. His footwork problems and decision making are coachable, and something that comes with more reps and comfortability in the offense. Allar is the ultimate lottery ticket in this year’s quarterback class, and the return has the potential to change a team’s entire trajectory.

Strengths

• Rocket arm. Perhaps the strength of his game that sticks out to me is his touch on deep passes.
• Prototypical height and weight at 6 foot 5, 228 pounds.
• Takes care of the football. You will rarely see Allar put the ball in harms way consistently.
• More of a rushing threat than he gets credit for. Allar rushed for 81 first downs across his collegiate career.

Weaknesses

• Footwork gets careless the longer he is in the pocket.
• Progressions seem to be a struggle for him. When the play is not an RPO he almost looked uncertain of his own abilities to drive the ball.
• Mechanics under pressure need serious work. He often tries to throw off-balance under pressure, leading to off target throws.
• Played in an RPO-heavy offense in college, which could have stunted his development as a passer and decision maker.

What others are saying about Drew Allar

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

“Allar is a sturdy, strong-armed passer with promising intangibles, but underdeveloped timing disrupts his ability to execute at a high level. He has NFL starting-caliber physical tools, although a lack of natural passing rhythm creates uncertainty about his developmental ceiling.”

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

“Allar looks the part with prototypical size and an effortless arm that can make any NFL throw. However, inconsistent touch and ball placement are a major hindrance. In big moments and big games, he hasn’t proven he can rise to the occasion or sustain efficiency. The stats looked good in a conservative offense as a sophomore, but his play became more erratic once the playbook was opened up and more responsibility was put on his plate. He can be slow to process and get to his best option. He also struggles to adjust his pre-snap plan to fit the coverage. It’s worth noting Allar’s receivers struggled to win man-coverage matchups for him. Against zone, he makes anticipatory throws and beats coverage at an adequate clip. Mechanical fixes are possible, but confidence, poise and recognition must be the foundation of any rebound. Allar projects as an average backup with high-end traits.”

Trevor Sikkema, PFF

“Allar has the arm talent to play in any offense in the NFL, but he was gun-shy and too inaccurate in 2025. He’s a developmental toolsy prospect who needs some time to refine his game.”

Jordan Reid, ESPN

“NFL franchises fall in love with physical tools. In what is a jumbled up group of QBs in Rounds 3 and 4, Allar has far and away the best physical traits of the bunch, but his accuracy has yet to improve. There likely will be a team that convinces itself that it has the right coaching to help Allar improve his mechanical flaws, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he’s drafted earlier than expected.”

Allar’s fit with the Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy has made in abundantly clear that the Steelers want to draft a quarterback this year. With Pittsburgh having 12 picks, it would make sense for them to target arguably their biggest need. However, when they choose to select one is truly anybody’s guess.

Allar would almost certainly not be asked to start right away, even if Aaron Rodgers decides not to return to the Steelers. After all, Allar is being drafted under the impression that he has untapped potential to grow into a quality starter. If the Steelers’ new head coach, Mike McCarthy, views Allar as someone he could mold into Pittsburgh’s long-term answer at QB, it would not be shocking to see Allar go earlier than most expect.

Allar would likely be behind Rudolph and Howard on the depth chart. He would have to have an almost “redshirt” like rookie year learning before getting any serious consideration for regular season action. Allar is the long-play option for quarterback-needy teams in the draft this year.

The Steelers have no long-term commitments to any quarterback on their team beyond the 2026 season, making the quarterback they select in 2026 a prime candidate to get a shot to start at the end of the 2026 season, or even to begin the 2027 campaign.

TL;DR: Allar has “prototypical” size and tools like a rocket arm that would normally make him a very attractive quarterback prospect. However, his injury and lack of growth as a passer from his junior to senior year raise concerns about just how much room Allar has to grow.

What are your thoughts on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!