Drew Allar NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Pittsburgh Steelers QB

Damian ParsonOct 12, 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Penn State QB Drew Allar with the No. 76 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Drew Allar is a naturally gifted quarterback with a high upside and ceiling. There remains a lot of development needed before he can effectively lead an NFL franchise to success.

He is a natural thrower of the football, possessing immense arm talent to execute every throw in the book. He has flashed the ability to be a multi-speed pitcher, layering the football with the requisite touch and arc.

Drew Allar is a former 5-star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports. The 2025 campaign marks his third season as a full-time starter, making his poor decision-making even more head-scratching. Last season, Allar threw for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Allar was voted as an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

Allar suffered a lower-body injury in Week 7 against Northwestern and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Dame Parson is the lead host of the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. He also serves as co-host of the Scouting Room NFL Podcast alongside Daniel Harms.

Highlights

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Scroll down for the complete scouting report.

Where He Wins

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 27 Oregon at Penn State

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- Allar has immense strength, generating outstanding velocity and RPMs on those with little to no effort.

- Is capable of making "wow" throws with touch and arm strength to power the ball whereever he desires.

- He is a pocket-style quarterback who excels on drive throws and can fit passes into tight windows.

- Flashes anticipation to get the football out early and beat the coverage.

- Allar has the traditional and ideal size to sit in the pocket and survey the field for open receivers.

- He has a great competitive nature and drive, willing to put his body on the line and lower his shoulder to finish runs.

- Allar displays good touch on his throws when his base is solidified.

- He layers the ball over defenders and drops it in the bucket to his receiver in the middle of the field.

- He possesses high-end arm talent; he is a multi-speed pitcher with more than a fastball in his repertoire.

Areas of Improvement

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- Inconsistent mechanics continue to be an issue; he needs to refine his footwork to throw from clean and sound bases.

- His accuracy and ball placement suffer due to a lack of focus on his footwork.

- Allar needs to throw with his body aligned with his intended target for optimal ball placement.

- Mechanics go awry versus defensive pressure; he throws from a flatfooted base and doesn't step into his throws.

- Decision-making is poor under pressure; he throws off his back foot, failing to climb the pocket to evade pressure, and throws risky passes into coverage.

- Specifically struggles against the interior pressure in his face, forcing him off his spot and drifting backwards.

- Allar lacks situational awareness in late-game moments. His processing is questionable for a senior prospect.

- Chases the big, splash plays on 1st-and-10 instead of making the right read.

- If the pocket collapses, he does not offer much creativity to beat the pressure with his feet.

- Allar must improve his efficiency in making the "lay-up" throws. Not setting his feet leads to off-target and sloppy throws in the quick game.