The first two weeks of preseason have been a blessing in disguise for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With Mike McCarthy becoming their new head coach and Aaron Rodgers in his last season in the NFL, the future looked murky for the organization. But it looks like they might have something on their hands in the form of rookie quarterback Drew Allar.
After a sensational outing against the Green Bay Packers last week, his performance tonight continued to grab people’s attention.
Steelers Rookie Drew Allar Might Be the Real Deal
A Penn State product, there were extremely high expectations for Allar before his final season at the program. However, an underwhelming season marred by injuries tanked his draft stock, and he was picked up by the Steelers in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Given a big portion of the snaps during the first two weeks, it looks like he’s found the form that had everyone’s eyes on him at one point in time. Against the Packers, he completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
He added another score on the ground, playing a big part in the Steelers’ 28-9 domination. This week, against the Jets, his numbers were far less spectacular, as Pittsburgh was shut out 17-0.
Completing fewer than 50% of his passes (11-23) for 110 yards, he did not record any touchdowns and was sacked three separate times, losing 29 yards in the process. But his overall processing and play produced some legitimate highlights.
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Pro Football Network caught arguably the biggest of those plays and had some high praise for the youngster, showcasing how transformative he had been in the preseason in comparison to his performance for the Nittany Lions.
“Drew Allar, my word. Allar had a decent 78.7 PFN QB Impact Score last year at Penn State, but he’s been absolutely SHREDDING this preseason.” That number put him at #71 on PFN’s CFB QB Impact Metrics.
Drew Allar, my word 😳
Allar had a decent 78.7 PFN QB Impact Score last year at Penn State, but he’s been absolutely SHREDDING this preseason pic.twitter.com/72UqABrp9l
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 22, 2026
But under head coach Mike McCarthy, it looks like fans are getting the best version of the rookie quarterback. His best highlight came in the form of a 38-yard pass to Lake McReee, where he evaded some intense pressure in the pocket.
It left analysts speechless, with Ian Cummings of PFN pointing out the upside. “The tools definitely pop for Drew Allar. He’s mobile for his size, he’s got nice platform freedom & and the ball sizzles coming off his hand. Awesome velocity.”
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However, he was also cognizant of the problems that plagued Allar. “But he also holds the ball long a lot right now. Needs more time for the game to slow.”
PFN’s Director of Media Partnerships, Jacob Infante, also had immense praise for the rookie, claiming, “I don’t wanna declare Drew Allar a steal because it’s far too early for that. But he’s surpassed my expectations so far this preseason. He has the physical tools that point to NFL starter upside. We’ll see if he gets there, but he’s been fun to watch so far.”
I don’t wanna declare Drew Allar a steal because it’s far too early for that
But he’s surpassed my expectations so far this preseason
He has the physical tools that point to NFL starter upside. We’ll see if he gets there, but he’s been fun to watch so far https://t.co/5fLkHk0Zwb
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) August 22, 2026
Fantasy analyst Kyle Soppe also believes that Allar might get a legitimate shot in the NFL, given how he’d already performed, albeit at the preseason level. He wrote, “I have no idea if Allar is the real deal, but he’ll have a runway and some weapons when he gets his shot. Penn State QBs haven’t exactly done the professional thing well, but open to a change to that in 2027 if this cast stays intact.”
Going on that same trend, another fantasy analyst, Jason Katz, said he believes the Steelers could choose to slot him into the starting lineup later on this year. “If the Steelers’ season goes south, why not see what Drew Allar has against real competition in December?”
It remains to be seen how his career progresses over the coming weeks and months. But for a Steelers fan base that has been desperate for a quarterback to stabilize their franchise, the situation post-Rodgers isn’t looking as bad as it once did.
While a high draft pick could net them a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft as well, the alternative with Allar has suddenly become far more appealing than it would have been just two weeks ago.
