If you’ve been following the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, you already know the quarterback room is the most talked-about topic in the Steel City. The thirst for a new franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement following the 2021 season has gone unquenched. However, there’s signs for hope and excitement.
The Steelers selected Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 76th overall pick. Early signs from offseason workouts are giving fans genuine reasons for optimism even if patience is required. Much like a player studying casino table games for the first time, Allar is being taught the fundamentals before he’s ever asked to make high stakes move.
Starting from scratch
Head coach Mike McCarthy wasted no time making his philosophy clear. At rookie minicamp, Allar was the only quarterback on the field, giving him two and a half days of undivided coaching attention. Quarterbacks coach Tom Arth worked alongside McCarthy to essentially rebuild Allar’s mechanics from the ground up: footwork, base width, weight distribution before anything more complex was introduced.
McCarthy has described it as uninstalling old hardware and rewriting the software entirely.
For Allar, the process has been humbling but welcome. The 6’5″, 235-pound signal-caller has spoken openly about the need to play with a wider base, keep his feet grounded, and avoid getting on his toes in the pocket. These might sound like minor adjustments, but at the NFL level, they’re the difference between a quarterback who processes quickly and one who gets happy feet under pressure. (See also: Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett!)
The case for Allar
The raw tools are undeniably there. Allar finished his Penn State career with 7,402 passing yards, 61 touchdowns, and only 13 interceptions across four seasons. He has the arm talent McCarthy covets in his West Coast based system. At his size, he fits the physical profile of a franchise quarterback.
Insiders who watched minicamp came away impressed, with one describing his presence and work ethic as “elite.”
The numbers against weaker competition were genuinely eye-catching: a 67% completion rate and 8 yards per attempt against teams outside the AP Top 10. The concern, naturally, is his 1-6 record against top-tier opponents and a completion rate that dipped to 50.3% in those games.
That variance is exactly why he was available, and the Steelers took him in the third round rather than the first. It’s also why the coaching staff is treating this as a long-term development project rather than a quick fix. (See also: re-signing Aaron Rodgers.)
McCarthy’s track record
This is where Steelers fans have reason to feel encouraged. McCarthy has a documented history of developing quarterbacks, and his structured approach to the position starting with the most basic physical fundamentals before layering in scheme is well suited to a prospect like Allar.
The one-on-one sessions between head coach and rookie quarterback have already drawn positive reviews, with Allar noting how valuable it has been to learn McCarthy’s personal philosophy at this early stage.
Will Howard, the second-year Ohio State product drafted in the sixth round of 2025, is also in the room, providing internal competition. That dynamic should push Allar rather than shelter him.
The bigger picture
The elephant in the room, of course, is Aaron Rodgers. The veteran quarterback re-signed this weekend with the expectation that he returns as the Week 1 starter in 2026. With this development, Allar will likely spend the season learning from one of the most technically refined quarterbacks in NFL history.
Fans who are worried about the progress of Allar or Howard shouldn’t be too concerned. It’s a scenario that could accelerate their development considerably.
Take the Green Bay Packers for example. They sat Jordan Love for two full seasons before giving him the reigns. A similar situation occurred in Kansas City, where head coach Andy Reid sat Patrick Mahomes behind Alex Smith for a year before handing the keys over to their star in the making.
For the Steelers, this is a positive outcome no matter how you spin it. Rodgers doesn’t have to do much, if anything. He can choose to be a mentor, but even if he doesn’t, the younger quarterbacks on the roster will benefit immensely from watching how he prepares and operates.
Regardless of Rodgers’ return, the Steelers have made a clear statement about where they believe the franchise is headed. Drew Allar is the long-term bet. McCarthy’s QB school is the vehicle. And if the early minicamp reports are any indication, the foundation is already being laid.