NFL Draft Rumors Link Steelers to Drew Allar at Combine Amid Aaron Rodgers Contract, Retirement Buzz

The Pittsburgh Steelers could potentially decide to target a quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft while waiting for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he is returning for a second season with the franchise.

The Steelers held a formal meeting with Penn State quarterback Drew Allar during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, PennLive's Nick Farabaugh reported Thursday.

Allar threw for 3,327 yards during his junior season with PSU in 2024, although he played just six games of his senior campaign in 2025 before suffered a season-ending ankle injury last October.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Allar had "recovered" from surgery on his ankle and planned to throw during the combine this weekend in Indianapolis.

Allar is ranked as the No. 120 prospect and No. 7 quarterback available on Bleacher Report's latest big board. The Steelers are heading into the draft with 12 picks, including four in the top 100, per Tankathon.

The Steelers currently have Mason Rudolph and Will Howard as quarterbacks under contract for next season, although both head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan have indicated they would like to add Rodgers to that list.

Khan told reporters earlier this week that the "door is open" for Rodgers to return to Pittsburgh, and that the Steelers hadn't given him a deadline as to when to decide on his return.

ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero have both expressed belief Rodgers' decision could come around the start of the league year in mid-March, which would be a shorter timeline than his June 7 signing with the Steelers last year.

That would also allow the Steelers to have a better idea as to the makeup of their quarterback room before the draft kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh.

How well Allar performs at the combine this weekend could play a role in what it would cost the Steelers to acquire him should they ultimately target the Nittany Lions quarterback in the draft. Allar is expected to hit the field at some point after quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs start workouts Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.