The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Penn State quarterback Drew Allar with their first third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team continues its search for a successor to Ben Roethlisberger, who retired after the 2021 season. Analysts offered mixed reactions to the choice in a draft class light on elite quarterback talent.
Pittsburgh has patched the quarterback position with veterans in recent years but lacks a long-term solution. The Steelers used one of their 12 draft picks on Allar, hoping his physical tools and high upside pay off under new coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy has a track record of developing quarterbacks, including Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers during his career. He also helped Matt Hasselbeck and Aaron Brooks become starters. Draft analyst Todd McShay expressed reservations about Allar on his podcast. “Drew Allar needs some work,” McShay said. “I’d take Will Howard over Drew Allar. But they see something in him, and who am I to say they can’t? If Mike McCarthy thinks he has the tools to fix that, I’m all for it.” McShay noted Allar’s inconsistency compared to Howard’s better accuracy and steadier play. Analyst Frank Schwab was more critical on the Inside Coverage podcast. “Mid-round picks at quarterback are generally wastes,” Schwab said. “If Drew Allar could play, he wouldn’t have been there in the third round in a really, really bad draft.” He likened the strategy to buying lottery tickets, though successes like Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy exist. Both analysts view Allar as a project unlikely to start Week 1.
