Drew Allar entered the 2025 season as a potential first-round pick, but he’s leaving it as a cautionary tale about returning to school. Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel didn’t mince words when evaluating the Penn State signal-caller, calling Allar the most confounding player he’s studied in recent draft cycles.
Drew Allar’s Physical Tools Haven’t Translated to Consistency
Allar has the prototypical NFL frame at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds. His arm is a cannon, and when he’s on rhythm with clean mechanics, he can fit the ball into any window on the field.
Two years ago, he looked like a franchise quarterback waiting to happen, but now he’s projected to go in the fourth-round.
“Drew Allar, I mean, to me, like I really liked him two years ago,” Daniel said. “But he’s probably the most frustrating prospect I’ve watched in the past couple of years when you break down quarterback, because he has all the traits in the world. Like, you look at him just physically, and you would have said in 2024, ‘I mean, this is what I want my guy to be made of.'”
Everyone’s talking about Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson…but what about Garrett Nussmeier & Drew Allar? 👀
You might be surprised how high some teams are on them….What round do they belong in?? pic.twitter.com/gyWyO6AFuI
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) April 4, 2026
“Then you watch the film, and you’re like, ‘What are you doing?’ Like, there are these donut plays here and there that you’re just like, ‘Ah,’ and it shares a sentiment with some NFL teams I’ve talked to with it,” Daniel continued. “But like, if you have good coaching and if you feel really good about developing him, I’m not gonna say he’s gonna come in and play right away, but if you develop him, high-level backup…”
The numbers tell the story as Allar’s 2023 campaign was outstanding: 2,631 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions while leading Penn State to a 10-3 record.
He set an FBS record by completing 311 consecutive passes to start his career without an interception. In 2024, he threw for 3,327 yards with 24 touchdowns and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention.
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But 2025 was a different story. Without tight end Tyler Warren manufacturing easy completions underneath, Allar’s game fell apart. His big-time throw rate cratered to a career-worst 2.5% while his turnover-worthy play rate climbed. He went 3-3 as a starter with 1,100 yards and 8 touchdowns before a broken ankle against Northwestern ended his season in Week 7.
According to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact, Allar finished last season as the 71st-ranked quarterback in college football with an impact score of 78.7 and was given a C+ grade.
Where Drew Allar Fits in the NFL
Allar’s draft stock has dropped from a first-round projection to being considered Day 2 or Day 3. In his recent mock draft, PFSN’s T.J. Randall has projected Allar as a fifth-round pick for the Miami Dolphins.
On PFSN’s Big Board, Allar is ranked as the fifth-best quarterback in this year’s class and has a grade of 70.03.
The Los Angeles Rams make sense as a landing spot. Allar could develop behind Matthew Stafford in a system that emphasizes play-action and simplified reads.
The biggest issue is that Allar needs everything around him to function properly. When protection fails or receivers aren’t immediately open, he doesn’t create off-schedule the way elite quarterbacks do. The physical tools are still there, but the question is whether any coaching staff can unlock them.
