The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback hunt feels self-inflicted at times.
Rumors of a possible Aaron Rodgers return continue to swirl, yet no firm decision has landed. Meanwhile, the calendar keeps flipping. We are months into the offseason and — as it stands — the Steelers do not have a confirmed starting quarterback on the roster. For a franchise that prides itself on stability, that reality is jarring.
Naturally, that uncertainty has pushed attention toward the draft. And lately, one name has stood out: Drew Allar.
The Penn State quarterback was one of three signal-callers to receive a formal pre-draft visit with Pittsburgh. That detail alone raised eyebrows. When he spoke about the experience, his tone was relaxed and confident.
“It was really fun, those are the type of conversations I love,” Allar explained. “I feel good in what I was saying.”
The meeting wasn’t surface-level. It wasn’t a courtesy call. It was detailed and intentional. The kind of football dialogue quarterbacks crave — coverage recognition, situational awareness, offensive philosophy.
And who was leading those conversations? The quarterback guru Mike McCarthy.
On one hand, I respect the aggression. General manager Omar Khan cannot sit idle while the most important position in sports remains unsettled. If Rodgers retires and Pittsburgh doesn’t believe it has a sure thing in-house, exploring every avenue is responsible.
But I still question the long yield.
Drafting a QB could be a waste of time for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft
Allar is talented.
His collegiate résumé is impressive: 7,402 passing yards, 61 touchdowns, and only 13 interceptions. At 6-foot-5, he looks the part stepping off the bus. His arm strength is undeniable. Plus, he can drive the football into tight windows and make throws that separate good prospects from intriguing ones.
Yet the tape isn’t flawless.
There are stretches where Allar struggles with diagnosing complex coverages. He occasionally forces throws that aren’t there. Pre-snap adjustments — one of the most critical traits for NFL quarterbacks — remain inconsistent. These are coachable flaws, sure. But they are also the type of growing pains Pittsburgh is already navigating.
Because let’s not forget about Will Howard.
Howard spent last season absorbing knowledge behind Rodgers. He has endured his own developmental bumps. If anyone deserves a legitimate opportunity to prove he can lead this team, it might be him. Drafting Allar wouldn’t automatically solve the dilemma — it would simply reset the clock by five percent.
That’s where my hesitation lives.
Still, I can’t fault Khan for doing his homework. Inviting Allar for a pre-draft visit doesn’t guarantee a selection. It signals due diligence. It keeps options open. And if McCarthy believes he can mold Allar’s physical tools into something special, that vision deserves consideration.
The key is value.
If Allar falls into a range that aligns with Pittsburgh’s draft board, perhaps the gamble makes sense. But reaching for reassurance has burned franchises before.
Allar left his visit feeling good. That’s encouraging. Now the question shifts back to Pittsburgh: are they preparing for the future — or reacting to the present?
Hopefully, if they make a move, it’s at the right time and for the right price. Because in this quarterback carousel, patience may be the most valuable trait of all.