Steelers rookie quarterback Drew Allar is already drawing lofty comparisons that Pittsburgh would love to see him achieve
Drew Allar has yet to take a meaningful rep in the league, but one NFL analyst is already comparing him to a quarterback that everyone just watched in the Super Bowl. The question is, can Allar meet those sorts of expectations?
The Pittsburgh Steelers currently have a quarterback problem. Not in terms of a starter, though. We know that the Steelers are going all-in for one final run following the return of Aaron Rodgers, but behind him is where things get interesting.
There will surely be a camp battle between Mason Rudolph and Will Howard to determine who wins the quarterback No.2 role, but that underscores battles of the future between Howard and rookie Drew Allar, who is already garnering some lofty comparisons.
Drew Allar Facts
- Was named Mr. Ohio for HS football.
- Grew up a Browns fan.
- Played in College Football Playoff semifinal in 2024-2025.
Drew Allar compared to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye
“If you’re looking for the optimistic path for Allar, it might look something like Drake Maye. The comparison isn’t perfect, but there are similarities,” Ryan Wilson wrote on CBS Sports.Com. “Going through my notes on Maye, many of the concerns sound familiar: inconsistent footwork, occasional accuracy lapses, a tendency to drift into pressure and stretches where he’d bypass easier throws in search of bigger plays downfield. Those concerns existed alongside flashes of a quarterback capable of making NFL throws that few players can. The anticipation, arm talent, athleticism and ability to create outside structure repeatedly showed up on tape. The data saw those traits too, which is one reason Maye projected so well despite the inconsistencies.”
How Drew Allar can become Drake Maye
From a pure profile standpoint, Maye and Allar already share similar traits in terms of size, arm talent, and mobility. Where Maye was light years ahead of Allar during the pre-draft process was in the intangibles and nuances.
The ability to read a defense promptly, the base, and footwork to make the same throw in the same spot, time and time again. That’s where Allar has to improve. Those are the areas where the Steelers are carefully and purposefully overhauling to make sure they can get the most out of Allar.
Because make no mistake, as much work as Allar needs, some proper coaching at Penn State would have probably helped his NFL projection, but that is in the hands of Mike McCarthy now, who is betting on himself as much as he is Allar.