Drew Allar Hyped by NFL Coach Ahead of Draft, 'My Favorite QB' Outside of Fernando Mendoza

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar's draft stock took a huge hit this past season, but at least one NFL coach views him as a potential steal in the 2026 NFL draft.

Speaking to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, an anonymous NFL coordinator said of Allar, "He's my favorite quarterback in the draft outside of [Fernando] Mendoza. In the right system, he can be great. He's got everything as far as tools. His footwork is an absolute mess. But improve his footwork and he can take off. He deserved better than what he got at Penn State."

In his first two seasons as a starter at Penn State, Allar raised eyebrows thanks to his solid production, combined with his prototypical size and skill set for a future NFL quarterback.

Allar went 10-3 as a starter in 2023 and accounted for 29 total touchdowns with just two interceptions. He followed that up with a 13-3 record, 30 total touchdowns and eight picks in 2025.

He also improved his completion percentage from 59.9 percent in 2023 to 66.5 percent in 2024, and he helped lead the Nittany Lions all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2025.

Allar may have been the second quarterback off the board in the 2025 NFL draft behind Cam Ward had he chosen to declare, but he surprisingly returned for his senior season at Penn State.

That proved to be a mistake as it relates to his perception among NFL teams, as he went 3-3 in six starts, completing 64.8 percent of his passes for 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions, while also rushing for 172 yards and one score.

Drew Allar's Best Plays

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An ankle injury, which required surgery, ended Allar's 2025 season after six games, and he enters the 2026 draft with little momentum on his side compared to where he stood after the 2024 campaign.

Allar seemed to help his cause at the NFL Scouting Combine, though, showing off his impressively strong arm in throwing drills, while measuring in at 6'5" and weighing 228 pounds.

It seems blatantly obvious that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is going to be the first overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders, but after him, the quarterback position is wide open.

Alabama's Ty Simpson is the only other quarterback who has received first-round hype, but it is far from guaranteed that he will crack the top 32.

On its latest big board, the BR NFL Scouting Department has Allar ranked as the 104th overall player in the draft and the No. 4 quarterback behind Mendoza, Simpson and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier.

That puts Allar in the area of an early Day 3 pick, but if more NFL coaches or talent evaluators feel the same way as the anonymous coordinator who spoke to Fowler, it is possible a team could be willing to spend a Day 2 pick on Allar as a developmental prospect and potential future starter.