In the NFL, quarterback is king. If you have one, it's all about maximizing your window to compete with that player. If you don't have one, your only real goal as a franchise is to find one. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's a bit more complicated than that.
With Aaron Rodgers' playing future up in the air, and Will Howard being the only QB with any potential upside on the roster, they were at a crossroads. In a weak QB draft class this year, do they take a flawed prospect with the hope that head coach Mike McCarthy can develop them? Or do they punt on it this year and look towards the 2027 class for answers?
At pick 76 on Friday night, the Steelers made their decision. Penn State QB Drew Allar is the guy that general manager Omar Khan chose to give McCarthy as a developmental project. In a draft where there were still plenty of potential impact players on the board at that spot, I fear it may have been a waste of a pick.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could regret the Drew Allar pick quickly if his flaws don't quickly improve
If there is one thing everyone can agree on with Allar, it's that he looks the part. Standing at 6'5" and 228 pounds, he is the prototype build that teams usually covet at the position. Unlike current Steelers backup (or starter, technically) Will Howard, who also has a tremendous frame, Allar has the raw arm strength to match as well.
He put that arm on display throughout his career at Penn State, and that arm talent is what made evaluators believe he could one day be a top pick in the NFL.
Obviously, that never happened, and for good reason. Allar could never turn his potential into elite production in college, even during his best season in 2024. Fans of his may blame his former coach, James Franklin, for why he never fully blossomed into the QB he was expected to be, but the reality is evident on tape.
To put it bluntly, nothing Allar does looks smooth or natural. His footwork is a mess, his mechanics are wonky, and his decision-making is underdeveloped for a player with multiple years of starting experience. To me, he is a classic example of overvaluing the traits despite the tape telling you who he is.
I have nothing against Allar, and I hope he becomes the player that the Steelers clearly think he will be. If I had to predict how it will turn out, however, it feels like the Steelers set this pick on fire.
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