The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Penn State quarterback Drew Allar with the 76th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a selection that underscores both the organization’s quarterback succession planning and the lingering questions around a once-celebrated recruit whose college career failed to match his lofty billing.
Allar arrived at Penn State as the nation’s third-ranked overall recruit and top quarterback in the Class of 2022, a prospect whose 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame and dynamic arm strength drew comparisons to elite NFL talent. Early in his first start against West Virginia, he displayed the poise and arm talent that made him a coveted prospect, escaping pressure and firing a 40-yard touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith — a moment that briefly suggested a new era for the Nittany Lions.
Instead, his tenure at Penn State ended in disappointment. Inconsistent performances, struggles with decision-making, and an inability to consistently trust his abilities contributed to a decline that coincided with the end of James Franklin’s era as head coach. Allar finished his college career without the breakthrough season many expected, transforming from a potential first-round pick into a third-round selection — a steep fall for a player once viewed as a savior for a program long lacking elite quarterback play.
The Steelers’ decision to draft Allar gains context from a 2025 trade that sent star wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. As part of that deal, Pittsburgh acquired a future third-round pick that ultimately became the 76th overall selection used on Allar. Pickens, meanwhile, flourished in Dallas, recording 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2025 — career highs that earned him Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors before being franchise-tagged for a one-year, $27.3 million deal in 2026.
For Pittsburgh, the Allar pick fits into a clear, if contingent, quarterback strategy. As CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo noted, the Steelers now appear to have a defined plan: if Aaron Rodgers returns, he will start with Allar and Will Howard as developmental backups behind him, potentially pushing Mason Rudolph out of the mix. Should Rodgers retire, the trio of Rodgers, Allar, and Howard would constitute the team’s quarterback roster entering 2026.
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The selection reflects a pragmatic, low-risk approach to a position of critical importance. Rather than reaching for a quarterback with higher upside but greater uncertainty, the Steelers opted for a player with prototypical size, arm strength, and starting experience — traits that align with their preference for polished, pro-ready prospects, even if those traits did not fully translate in college.
Yet the pick also invites scrutiny. Allar’s draft position represents a significant downgrade from the expectations that accompanied his recruitment, raising questions about whether Pittsburgh is investing in a player who can develop into a starter or simply adding depth to a quarterback room that may soon face a transition. His mobility and off-platform throwing — noted as strengths by 247Sports evaluators — could serve him well in a Steelers offense that values versatility, but only if he can overcome the inconsistency that plagued his final years in State College.
In the broader context of the draft, Allar was the second quarterback taken in the third round, following Carson Beck’s selection by the Arizona Cardinals at 65th overall. Even as Beck was chosen for his potential as a developmental prospect, Allar’s selection signals a different intent: not a long-term project, but a ready-made contributor who can compete for a backup role immediately, with the possibility of more should circumstances change.
Why did the Steelers wait until the third round to draft a quarterback?
The Steelers prioritized other positions earlier in the draft and viewed Allar as a developmental fit behind a potentially returning Aaron Rodgers, making a high-risk, high-reward quarterback selection unnecessary at this stage.
How does George Pickens’ trade to the Cowboys relate to the Steelers drafting Drew Allar?
The third-round pick acquired from Dallas in the 2025 George Pickens trade became the 76th overall selection used by Pittsburgh to draft Allar, directly linking the two transactions.
What are the risks of drafting Drew Allar given his uneven college career?
The primary risk is that Allar may not develop beyond a backup role, as his college career showed flashes of elite talent but was marked by inconsistency and struggles to consistently trust his abilities under pressure.
