NFL Hall of Famer goes to bat for Steelers rookie quarterback Drew Allar amid criticism for Pittsburgh’s NFL Draft decision
The Pittsburgh Steelers received a lot of criticism for their decision to draft quarterback Drew Allar, but one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game has come to the defense of the Steelers and Drew Allar.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, there was a lot of talk that the Steelers “reached.” Pundits, analysts, and media members thought that taking Allar with the first of their 3 first-rounders was a mistake.
Well, one person who doesn’t follow that narrative is Kurt Warner.
Drew Allar Facts
- Former 5-star recruit.
- Was voted Mr. Ohio for football in high school.
- Grew up a Browns fan.
Kurt Warner goes to bat for Drew Allar
“The talent jumps off the screen when you watch this guy throw. It is effortless for him to push the ball down the field,” Warner said on Kurt’s QB Insider, when speaking about Allar. “One of the questions always with a big-armed quarterback is, can they control that big arm and become consistently accurate as a thrower? If so, this guy could become the steal of the draft and could become the best quarterback in this class, but that is a big if.”
How the Steelers capitalize on the big-if
This isn’t some hot take or revolutionary statement from Warner. Coming off the best years of his career in 2024, there was truly a ton of hype around Allar as a first-round prospect.
He decided to forego the draft and return to Penn State in 2025, and it clearly cost him. Between a slow start and then a broken ankle that cost him the remainder of his season, the leap that many hoped Allar would take never came to fruition.
But that’s where Mike McCarthy, and hopefully a veteran presence like Aaron Rodgers, should help Allar. He has all the traits; what he needs is the intangibles. Sure, he was a tremendous leader at Penn State, and I’m sure he can continue that in Pittsburgh, but I’m talking about reading defenses, becoming a lightning-quick processor, and above all else, becoming an anticipatory thrower.
That’s where Allar will go from a project to a pro-ready passer. When he masters the minor details, those high-leverage situations will become increasingly easier for Allar. And remember, Allar just turned 22. He’s a raw human being as much as he is a raw passer. He has a ton of room for growth, and the sky really is the limit.