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Steelers, amid QB uncertainty, select Drew Allar in third round

By Thomson Reuters Apr 24, 2026 | 11:11 PM

With Aaron Rodgers yet to commit to extending his career into 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a move to bolster the ​quarterback position, selecting Penn State’s Drew Allar ‌in the third round of the draft on Friday.

The Steelers used the 76th overall selection on Allar, who is coming off a broken left ankle that ended his ‌2025 ​season in October.

The choice of ⁠Allar was cheered wildly ⁠at the draft site in Pittsburgh considering that he played for the Nittany Lions to the east in State College.

Rodgers, 42, started 16 of ​the Steelers’ 17 games last season, with the team going 10-6 in those contests. He ⁠is mulling a return for ⁠a 22nd NFL season or retirement.

Allar ​put up impressive numbers for Penn State during his ​2 1/2 years as a starter.

In 2023, ‌he threw for 2,631 yards on a 59.9% completion rate with 25 touchdown passes and two interceptions. The following year, he connected on 66.5% of ⁠his throws for 3,327 yards and 24 TDs with eight interceptions as the Nittany Lions reached the College ⁠Football Playoff ‌semifinals.

Last season, Allar had a 64.8% ⁠completion rate, 1,100 passing yards, eight touchdowns ​and ‌three interceptions in his abbreviated campaign.

He ​also ran ⁠for 12 career touchdowns.

The Steelers’ other options at quarterback include Mason Rudolph, who has a 9-9-1 career record as a starter, and Will Howard, a sixth-round pick last year who didn’t see any action.

–Field ​Level Media