Drew Allard: The Future of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Drew Allard’s fanfare seems well-deserved, especially after a standout showing in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, where he racked up three touchdowns—two through the air and one on the ground. It’s hard to ignore how much buzz he’s created during training camp, particularly from new head coach Mike McCarthy.

Allard’s stats were impressive, completing 10 of 13 attempts for 153 yards. He consistently found his targets, especially across the middle, giving fans a glimpse of an exciting offensive strategy. His ability to throw accurately and set up playmakers for yards after the catch was quite remarkable.

Post-game, McCarthy expressed his approval, stating, “I thought Drew played very well.” He also praised the two quarterbacks who preceded Allard on the field: veteran Mason Rudolph and second-year player Will Howard.

Rudolph had a decent outing, completing 10 of 11 passes for 93 yards with no touchdowns and two sacks, while Howard followed up with 7 of 9 for 86 yards, although he couldn’t find the end zone either.

Meanwhile, it’s noteworthy that starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed this initial preseason game but is set to lead the team when the regular season kicks off.

Allard, picked in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, has long been regarded as a potential first-round caliber quarterback. Just before the 2025 draft, he was ranked fourth overall by coach Mel Kiper, generating quite a bit of anticipation regarding his future. Yet, he surprised many by opting to return to Penn State.

Interestingly, the New York Giants selected his teammate, Abdul Carter, as the third overall pick, leading some to speculate that they might have taken Allard if he had declared for the draft. Ultimately, they opted for Ole Miss’s Jackson Dart later in the first round instead.

Regrettably for Allard, his return to college didn’t play out as hoped. The Nittany Lions finished the season with a disappointing 7-6 record, following the midseason firing of coach James Franklin. In his limited action, he threw for only 1,100 yards, registering eight touchdowns and three interceptions while completing about 65% of his passes over six games. A season-ending injury against Northwestern didn’t help his fading draft prospects either, leading to his current opportunity with the Steelers.

After Thursday’s promising display, the Steelers appear to have picked up a significant talent at a low-cost investment.