Former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is in one of the more interesting positions in the NFL entering the 2026 season.
On the surface, a third-round quarterback pick typically isn't a starter instantly in the league. It remains uncertain if Allar will really even have a chance to start, but there's a lot to take away from what we've seen over the past week or so since he's been drafted. Allar, who should have an opportunity to start if things go as planned, will be heavily impacted by what Aaron Rodgers decides to do.
If Rodgers decides to come back to Pittsburgh, there's nothing Allar can do. There would be no debate that the veteran quarterback and future Hall of Famer would be the starting quarterback, unless he got injured in the preseason or throughout the year.
However, if Rodgers doesn't return or decides to hang them up, there's a real argument that Allar might be the best quarterback in the room, with a recent draft analyst saying that Allar is not only going to get a chance but is the most talented player on their roster at the quarterback spot.
"I think you could have an open competition with the guys they have there," Daniel Jeremiah said, H/T Steelers Nation. "But to me, Allar is the one who's the most talented player on their roster at that position. I would roll with him.
"I know he's a rookie, but he's got a ton of ability. He's played a ton of football. His career didn't end up the way he would've liked, but there are stretches of good play. Gotta clean up his footwork a little bit. But that's what I'd like to see. Next year, they're gonna more than likely be in the quarterback market in the draft. I'd like to know what I have in Drew Allar before we have to make that decision."
With Mason Rudolph and Will Howard there, it's almost tough to argue that Allar wouldn't be the most talented player of the bunch, but it's also fair to mention that Howard and Rudolph have the upper hand at the moment due to being in Pittsburgh longer than a few days at this point.