The Pittsburgh Steelers made one of the most notable picks of Day Two of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Penn State quarterback Drew Allar with the 76th overall pick. The big, athletic quarterback now enters a quarterback room with Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and potentially Aaron Rodgers. Here is what our staff thought of the pick.
Ryan Parish: It wasn’t totally unexpected, the Steelers have been forecasting that they’d being taking a quarterback this draft. Drew Allar has all the things Mike McCarthy
likes in a quarterback, except maybe being good at football. In a post Josh Allen and Sam Darnold Super Bowl winner world, we can’t ever rule out late-stage development. And Allar does have a naturally big arm, even if he doesn’t know how to use it consistently. It’s time for McCarthy to put his money where is mouth is as a QB guru. At least the Steelers are throwing darts until they find their guy. Grade: B-
Alex Hanczar: Originally a five-star out of high school the credentials are definitely there for Allar. In 2025 the Nittany Lion missed the majority of the season with a broken ankle. Despite the bump the 6-foot-five QB continued to build on his arm talent that helped Penn State reach the College Football semi-finals a season prior. Additionally, Allar is continuing to find his versatility on the ground and extending plays with his feet. Although there is upside, I feel Pittsburgh could have waited another round or two to take him. Grade: C+
Joey Bray: It was pretty clear the Steelers were going to take a quarterback at some point during this draft. However, 76th overall was never on my radar. That being said, there is a ton to like about Allar and the upside he provides with a huge arm and prototypical size. He is an underrated runner who is much better throwing on the run than he gets credit for. Mike McCarthy has all but labeled himself a “quarterback whisperer” so clearly he was excited about what Allar put on tape in 2024. He is far from a finished product and benefits from the fact that he fact that he likely won’t have to play in year one. Grade: B
Ryland Bickley: Yeah, I don’t love this one. But making double-digit picks in the draft without a clear answer at quarterback, using one of those selections to take a chance on someone made plenty of sense. I’m just not sure if I would’ve gone with this quarterback at this spot. But Allar certainly has the sort of traits I’ve wanted the Steelers to bet on for a bit now, even if he’s still worryingly far from being a complete project. I don’t have high expectations, but I understand the choice. Grade: B-
Jarrett Bailey: It’s no secret that I’m a Drew Allar guy. In nearly every mock I did in this process, he was the quarterback I picked to go to the Steelers, so it goes without saying I love the pick. Will it work out? I don’t know. But a guy with his size, athleticism, and arm strength is something that someone who fancies himself a quarterback whisperer should be able to help reach his full potential. I can’t wait to see him on the field, and hope this is the long-term answer at quarterback. Grade: A
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
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