We all knew that the Pittsburgh Steelers would draft a quarterback at some point in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mike McCarthy was brought in as head coach largely due to his supposed ability to develop QBs, and the Steelers just gave him one of the most gifted, but also most flawed, passers in this class.
Penn State QB Drew Allar is the newest Steelers draft pick at 76 overall, and he will potentially be joining a room headlined by future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers.
Are the Steelers the team who can unlock the clear talent in Allar's 6'5", 228-pound frame? Or will he be yet another talented signal-caller who flames out under the bright lights of the NFL spotlight?
Pittsburgh Steelers choose Drew Allar as Mike McCarthy's project at QB
Allar possesses legitimate talent that is clear the second you watch him play. He has a powerful arm, moves well for a QB of his stature, and is willing to stand in the pocket and take shots while delivering the ball down the field. He looks like the prototype player every team looks for at the position.
The problem, as it often is with guys like Allar, is that his flashes are few and far between. For every big time throw, their is a terrible miss. For every picked up first down on the ground, their is drive-killing sack. He has a strong arm, but he sprays throws consistently and has awful footwork and throwing mechanics.
Despite all of his flaws, there is a reason Pittsburgh felt like he is worth this pick. McCarthy likely believes he can fix many of the issues Allar has, and if he can, he could be the Steelers next franchise QB.
In reality, however, this pick is a total gamble. The idea of drafting a QB on Day 2 and developing him into a star sounds great in theory, but it is extremely rare in practice. For every Jalen Hurts, there is a Matt Corral. For every Kirk Cousins, there is a Sam Howell.
It's a low-percentage play, but maybe, just maybe, Allar could be the next franchise QB in Pittsburgh. I wouldn't bet on it, though.
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