Drew Allar drafted by Steelers: QB added as team awaits Aaron Rodgers decision

Is Drew Allar the NFL's next big thing? Well, one fanbase certainly hopes so.

The Penn State quarterback has been selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 76 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. It's one of the more exciting picks from the class, considering where Allar was rated ahead of the 2025 season. The former Nittany Lions quarterback didn't do himself any favors last season, but there's no question he possesses all the tools for success.

After all, there's a reason why many like to throw the Josh Allen comparison around.

Ranked as the fifth-best quarterback on USA TODAY Sports' big board, Allar possesses the size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds) and arm talent to become a superstar, but it all comes down to fit. If the quarterback meshes well with the coaching staff and collection of weapons, he is in line for great success at the next level.

Any great collection of tools can build something breathtaking, but it can also be dangerous. The focus will be on the coaching staff, but much of that also comes down to the user.

If Allar puts it all together, he'll have one happy group of fans and the wins to back it up. Time will tell where he falls on the list, but the story begins in Pittsburgh.

Here's what to know about where Allar lands on the team's depth chart and his overall fit with the Steelers.

Steelers QB depth chart

• Mason Rudolph
• Will Howard
• Drew Allar

How does Drew Allar fit with the Steelers?

Allar doesn't have to move far from his college dorm as he heads from State College, Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh. Familiarity alone should make the transition an easier one for the now-former Nittany Lion, who enters a quarterback room that is wide open.

It all comes down to whatever Aaron Rodgers decides, which remains the biggest question hanging over the offseason in Pittsburgh. If Rodgers retires, Allar can compete right away for the starting job with Rudolph and Howard being the only remaining quarterbacks on the roster.

Given the fact that Mike McCarthy didn't bring the two incumbents on board, it stands to reason that Allar would have as good a chance as any to take that job. Many have been quick to draw a comparison to Josh Allen, since both players were far from finished products coming out of college.

Maybe he doesn't reach that height, but the idea is certainly exciting enough for a franchise that hasn't experienced stability at the position since Ben Roethlisberger.

If nothing else, the Allar pick continues to prove that the franchise has a type at the most important position in sports – big quarterbacks with strong arms. With some improved mechanics and accuracy, there might be something here.

What does this mean for Aaron Rodgers?

Nothing really.

If Rodgers wants to play in 2026, the Steelers aren't going to let this Allar pick stand in the way of that. The prospect is far from a finished product, meaning he'll need to develop before seeing the field. Pittsburgh's selection is the NFL draft equivalent of buying a lottery ticket and hoping to hit the jackpot.

That is no slight to Allar, who shouldn't be expected to be a savior in his rookie season.

The Steelers believe they can compete and, as a result, will continue to await Rodgers' decision. Without Rodgers, this is Rudolph's team.

With him, well, you know the rest.