The Pittsburgh Steelers recently tried their hand with an in-state collegiate quarterback, but it didn’t pan out. Maybe Penn State’s Drew Allar would have more success than Kenny Pickett did.
Penn State Star QB Drew Allar Goes To Pittsburgh In Recent Mock Draft
In a three-round mock-up of the 2026 NFL Draft posted on Saturday, Pro Football Network tabbed Allar as the No. 16 overall pick.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers chose to pass on all of the early-round QBs in the 2025 NFL Draft, and now they’re still in limbo with Aaron Rodgers; 2026 will be the QB cycle for Pittsburgh, and Drew Allar is a compelling in-state prospect,” Pro Football Network wrote. “A former five-star recruit, Allar is 6’5″, 238 pounds with an angle-diverse rocket launcher on his right shoulder.”
“He’s young yet experienced, and has grown as a field general in his time at Penn State. Accuracy and precision will determine how high he rises in 2026.”
Allar was the fourth passer taken off the board, after Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (No. 1, New Orleans Saints), Clemson’s Cade Klubnik (No. 3, Cleveland Browns), and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers (No. 7, Las Vegas Raiders). LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier went No. 26 overall to the Los Angeles Rams.
CBS Sports’ Josh Pate views Allar as one of the best signal-callers in the sport for this upcoming season. He led the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals last go-round.
“Drew Allar’s in an interesting spot, kind of similar to James Franklin, honestly. It’s funny that he plays for him,” Pate said Monday on “Josh Pate’s College Football Show.” “Franklin has been really good, but not elite, for a long time. And if you keep being really good and you’re someone people want to be elite, they end up criticizing you. Drew Allar’s been really good, but since he was five stars out of high school, people will expect and accept nothing less than elite from him.’
KEEP READING: WATCH: Drew Allar’s Pinpoint Throws in Ohio Spark Buzz Ahead of 2025 Season
“But he hasn’t been elite yet. But he’s been really good.”
Allar is tops all-time for the Nittany Lions in completion percentage (62.9%) and interception percentage (1.19%). He needs 37 touchdown passes and 303 completions to break Sean Clifford’s program records in those departments. Those are lofty figures, but Allar has had 389 and 394 completions over the past two seasons. He threw for 24 touchdowns in his last go-round.
Penn State likely won’t have to rely solely on its passing game this year, as it returns two of the best running backs in the country in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball!
