2026 NFL Draft Summer season Scouting Sequence: Penn State QB Drew Allar
A return of our Summer season Scouting Sequence right here at Steelers Depot. We spotlight 2026 NFL Draft hopefuls who’re producing buzz previous to the beginning of the 2025 CFB season at positions that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have curiosity in a number of months from now as soon as the pre-draft course of will get underway.
DREW ALLAR, QB, PENN STATE (SENIOR) — 6-5, 235 POUNDS
THE GOOD
— Has the peak, measurement, and body of a beginning NFL quarterback
— Possesses spectacular arm expertise and zip on the ball
— Effortlessly completes deep passes, dropping them into the bucket
— Has the arm energy to suit the ball into tight home windows
— Has proven the power to undergo his reads throughout the sector
— Could make off-platform throws at numerous arm angles
— Succesful scrambler from the pocket with good athleticism
— Measurement makes him a handful for opposing defenders to carry down
— Has a 23-6 document as a beginning quarterback
— Shows management each on and off the sector
— Has the character and make-up you need main a franchise
THE BAD
— Doesn’t possess uncommon velocity or explosiveness on the place
— Psychological processing could be faster when going via his progressions
— Footwork can get sloppy within the pocket
— Will underthrow passes as a consequence of poor base
— Liable to taking probabilities and placing the ball in dangerous spots
BIO
— Senior from Medina, Ohio
— Born March 8, 2004
— Grew up an enormous Buckeyes and Browns fan
— Father, Kevin, performed tight finish at Japanese Michigan from 1992-97
— 4-star recruit, in accordance with Rivals
—Named Ohio’s Mr. Soccer in 2021
— Misplaced his cousin, Blake, in 2012 in a crash, and performs for his reminiscence
— Dedicated to Penn State out of highschool
— 2022: Performed in 9 video games, all coming off of the bench, finishing 35-of-60 passes (58.3%) for 344 yards and 4 touchdowns whereas additionally speeding for 52 yards and one landing
— 2023: Began all 13 video games and accomplished 233-of-389 passes (59.9%) for two,631 yards and 25 touchdowns to simply two interceptions whereas additionally speeding for 206 yards on 74 carries with 4 scores
— 2024: Began all 16 video games and accomplished 262-of-394 passes (66.5%) for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions whereas speeding for 302 yards on 96 carries with six scores
— All-Huge Ten Honorable Point out (2024), 2024 group captain
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Drew Allar has the profile of a top quality NFL prospect, possessing the bodily traits in addition to the character you search for on the place. In some ways, the 6-5, 235-pound passer resembles one other acquainted face who got here out of Ohio, possessing the dimensions and arm expertise that pop off the display. Allar can throw the ball downfield with relative ease like on this play under towards Boise State within the CFP. Slinging the ball almost 50 yards downfield, he hits his receiver in stride for the rating.
Allar isn’t afraid to place the ball within the air for his receivers to go get. Having good contact on his passes, he locations the ball in spots the place solely his meant goal has an opportunity to return down with it. Allar performed a component in Tyler Warren’s breakout season in 2024, the All-American TE catching each passes proven under after Allar lofts the ball up in contested protection.
Allar has the motion abilities to maneuver within the pocket, evade stress, and lengthen the play. Watch the clips under towards USC. Within the first clip, Allar evades stress by shifting to his proper within the pocket earlier than finding his receiver and throwing downfield to choose up the primary down.
On this subsequent clip, Allar takes the snap and appears to his left, however none of his receivers break open. The stress begins to set in, however Allar climbs the pocket. As a defender will get a hand on him, he whips a sidearm cross to his goal and manages to suit the ball between two defenders for the rating.
Allar may also preserve the ball himself, having amassed 560 speeding yards and 11 scores to this point in his profession. He generally is a load to carry down within the open discipline in addition to within the pocket, utilizing his physique to choose up further yards on contact like we see within the clip under towards USC. Allar scrambles up the center, almost selecting up the primary down earlier than two defenders take him down.
Allar is able to going via his reads within the pocket, scanning the sector for an open receiver. Watch this play under as Allar throws a game-tying landing again to RB Nick Singleton within the flat. He works from left to proper earlier than hitting Singleton, who takes the ball up the sideline for the rating.
Allar’s psychological processing generally is a bit sluggish at occasions, and he must be extra constant along with his choice making. He additionally tends to depend on his bodily items and may get a bit sloppy along with his footwork within the pocket as you may see on this clip under towards Notre Dame. After throwing off his again foot towards the tip zone, the ball falls wanting his meant goal and into the palms of a defender for the interception.
CONCLUSION
Drew Allar is massive, bodily quarterback who has the arm expertise that many groups will fall in love with throughout the pre-draft course of. He has some technicalities he wants to wash up in his sport to be a dependable starter within the league, however there’s a lot to love given his measurables, upside, and management qualities. His play in clutch moments shall be key this season. In 2024, Allar rose to the event in some video games whereas in others, like towards Notre Dame, he didn’t impress.
The Steelers are primed to draft a quarterback excessive subsequent offseason with Aaron Rodgers on a one-year-deal and Will Howard a rookie sixth-round decide who seemingly gained’t see any taking part in time in 2025. Allar may very well be the man who hears his identify referred to as in Pittsburgh subsequent spring, giving the Steelers a giant, strong-armed quarterback to guide their franchise for the foreseeable future.
Projection: Day 1
Video games Watched: vs. Notre Dame (2024), vs. Boise State (2024), at USC (2024), vs. Oregon (2024)
