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Steelers Draft QB Drew Allar No. 76, Reach Early

4/27/2026

Summary

Steelers Draft Allar

Steelers drafted Penn State QB Drew Allar No. 76 in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Allar started 35 games with a 63.2% completion rate before a senior ankle injury.
Analysts placed him between No. 94 and No. 157, calling him a high-upside developmental quarterback.
Critics say Pittsburgh reached about 44 spots earlier than consensus, adding him to backups Mason Rudolph and Will Howard while awaiting Aaron Rodgers' 2026 decision.

Summary

Rodgers Decision

Steelers expect Aaron Rodgers to decide his 2026 future at the first OTAs on May 18, with a revisit before the second OTAs on May 28-29.
Minicamp June 2-4 and OTAs June 8-9 and June 11-12 give quarterbacks practice, and Mike McCarthy said the draft was meant to develop quarterback room featuring Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar.
The team will spin any Rodgers postponement as a positive, using reps to assess younger quarterbacks.

Summary

Steelers Pick Allar

Steelers used the Dallas Cowboys pick acquired for George Pickens to select quarterback Drew Allar in the third round.
Analysts said the first-round choice was a reach after passing on six first-round caliber wide receivers.
Todd McShay preferred sixth-round quarterback Will Howard and doubted the Steelers could develop Allar’s tools profile.
The fourth-round return specialist, seventh-round Navy player, and late-round quarterbacks showed a haphazard draft aimed at fixing the quarterback vacancy.

History

Historical Context

The Steelers’ success traces to the 1970 NFL draft, when they used the first overall pick to select quarterback Terry Bradshaw, a future Hall of Famer who helped launch a dynasty that won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. Decades later, the 2026 draft saw Pittsburgh add quarterback Drew Allar in the third round, continuing the team’s reliance on developing talent rather than free-agent signings.

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Steelers Draft Allar

Steelers drafted Penn State QB Drew Allar No. 76 in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Allar started 35 games with a 63.2% completion rate before a senior ankle injury.
Analysts placed him between No. 94 and No. 157, calling him a high-upside developmental quarterback.
Critics say Pittsburgh reached about 44 spots earlier than consensus, adding him to backups Mason Rudolph and Will Howard while awaiting Aaron Rodgers' 2026 decision.

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