Steelers, amid QB uncertainty, select Drew Allar in third round

With Aaron Rodgers yet to commit to extending his career into 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a move to bolster the quarterback position, selecting Penn State's Drew Allar in the third round of the draft on Friday.

The Steelers used the 76th overall selection on Allar, who is coming off a broken left ankle that ended his 2025 season in October.

The choice of Allar was cheered wildly at the draft site in Pittsburgh considering that he played for the Nittany Lions to the east in State College.

Rodgers, 42, started 16 of the Steelers' 17 games last season, with the team going 10-6 in those contests. He is mulling a return for a 22nd NFL season or retirement.

Allar put up impressive numbers for Penn State during his 2 1/2 years as a starter.

In 2023, he threw for 2,631 yards on a 59.9% completion rate with 25 touchdown passes and two interceptions. The following year, he connected on 66.5% of his throws for 3,327 yards and 24 TDs with eight interceptions as the Nittany Lions reached the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Last season, Allar had a 64.8% completion rate, 1,100 passing yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions in his abbreviated campaign.

He also ran for 12 career touchdowns.

The Steelers' other options at quarterback include Mason Rudolph, who has a 9-9-1 career record as a starter, and Will Howard, a sixth-round pick last year who didn't see any action.

--Field Level Media

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 11:52 PM.