New NFL Rumors on Drew Allar and What 'Steelers Are Betting Big on' Mike McCarthy to Fix with QB

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy may have one specific area of focus when he begins working with third-round draft pick Drew Allar.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Steelers are "are betting big on [McCarthy's] quarterback development to fix Allar's footwork."

The NFL insider added that the team "believes Allar has similar arm talent to a young Joe Flacco."

McCarthy, who was a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator before the Green Bay Packers hired him in 2006, has long been considered a QB specialist. He successfully navigated the transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. Dak Prescott was also the MVP runner-up in 2023 when McCarthy coached the Dallas Cowboys.

Fowler spoke to a Steelers source who's confident he can make Allar more polished in the pocket.

"He's really got a good feel for what that takes," they said.

Granted, Pittsburgh is trying to hype up the former Penn State star at the same time it's pursuing a reunion with Aaron Rodgers. Earlier this week, the team placed an unrestricted free-agent tender on the four-time MVP, the strongest sign yet of its hopes of keeping him around.

Should Rodgers decide to retire, the Steelers' quarterback battle is a three-horse race between Allar, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.

Given their present situation, taking a Day 2 flier on Allar made sense, but he's a long way from being a No. 1 option at the next level.

"All of the requisite tools to be a starting NFL quarterback are present in Allar," Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski wrote while giving the pick a B grade. "Where he's currently at in his development and overall consistency are not."

Grading Drew Allar Pick

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Over his final three years with the Nittany Lions, Allar threw for 7,058 yards, 57 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 35 starts. He never took a significant step forward in his development and often struggled in Penn State's biggest games.

Should McCarthy diagnose and iron out the flaws with Allar, it will be one of his more impressive coaching feats.