Drew Allar shined in his first preseason games with the Pittsburgh Steelers following an up-and-down journey at Penn State. The third-round quarterback led touchdown drives on each of his first three possessions in a Steelers uniform and completed 10-of-13 passes for 153 yards, two passing touchdowns, and a rushing score. It was a good first impression for Allar, who looked comfortable in the pocket and didn’t miss the easy throws he was knocked for in college.
Despite the strong first game, albeit the preseason, it didn’t make former NFL offensive lineman and current FOX analyst Geoff Schwartz more optimistic that he is going to be the Steelers’ next franchise quarterback.
“Drew Allar is unlikely to get a chance to be good in the NFL because he’s not going to get an opportunity to play,” Schwartz said via FOX Sports Radio. “If he’s the third-string guy, when is he ever gonna play?”
Aaron Rodgers is solidified as the 2026 starting quarterback, and Will Howard continues to battle Mason Rudolph for the backup spot.
Allar is surely going to make the roster, but it doesn’t appear that he’s in play to be QB2. The lack of reps could hurt Allar’s chances of proving to the Steelers that he’s their guy moving forward, and Schwartz sees the Steelers picking a quarterback in 2027.
“Because next year the Steelers are going to draft a quarterback,” Schwartz said. “He might never get a chance in this league.”
The 2027 draft class is expected to be stocked with highly-talented quarterbacks like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, LaNorris Sellers, and others, but so was last year.
The 2026 group didn’t end up being nearly as advertised, and Allar was considered a first-round pick entering the college football season.
Allar will have two more chances to showcase his skill as the Steelers host the New York Jets on Friday and will play in Buffalo next Thursday against the Bills before kicking off the regular season against Atlanta on September 13.
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