The scouting reports on Penn State’s Drew Allar continue to bring mixed reactions as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, and one longtime analyst didn’t hold back when breaking down the ex-Penn State standout.
NFL analyst Greg Cosell described Allar as one of the most polarizing prospects in the class, noting that there’s a gap between his physical tools and his overall play on the field.
“Drew Allar is one of the most frustrating guys for me. There’s no question,” Cosell said, per Nittany Sports Now. “Look, you can pull out 20 throws a season and go, ‘God, this guy is unbelievable.’ But there are too many things that are problematic.”
That reality is what makes Allar such an interesting but challenging player to scout for teams like the Cleveland Browns, who have already been linked to him as a mid-round option.
On the one hand, he has the size, arm strength, and talent that teams love. On the other hand, questions about how he looked at Penn State are more than fair.
Cosell spoke about those concerns, stating how Allar handles pressure and reads the field when plays break down. However, he said he needs to have a “secure pocket to function.” In Allar’s defense, that’s nearly every quarterback in the NFL.
“I think he needs a really clear picture. I think he needs a secure pocket to function,” Cosell said. “When the pocket gets a little dirtied and muddy, he plays fast both mentally and physically. I’m still not sure he sees it the way you need to see it, with the clarity and the speed you need. And if that’s the case in college, that’s only going to be exacerbated in the NFL.”
Those are critical traits at the next level, as defenses are 10x better than anything Allar has ever seen. Quarterbacks who struggle under pressure in college often see those issues become even bigger against NFL defenses.
“This is not an X’s and O’s point, but I’ve watched him for three years because I always thought he would come out early,” Cosell said. “There’s something missing. I feel like I can see certain things where I know something’s missing, but it goes beyond that. There’s something missing in his game that prevents him from playing to the level his really high-end traits suggest.”