Steelers QB Drew Allar shone in his preseason debut, completing 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and 2 TDs. He also ran for an additional TD. The rookie third-round pick was selected based on his physical traits and showcased a strong arm against the Packers last night. He will likely spend his rookie season as the No. 3 QB on the roster behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, but Allar could put together enough impressive moments to compete for the starting job in 2027.
What They're Saying: McCarthy Sees Daily Growth
HC Mike McCarthy: “There hasn't been a day where [Allar] hasn't made a throw where you say, 'okay, that's a young man taking a step.'”
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Promising Tape, Patience Required
Allar’s highlight pass was a 74-yard TD to fellow rookie WR Kaden Wetjen. Allar took a shotgun snap with a quick three-step drop and hit a timing route to Wetjen (who blocked out a CB who fell down). The seven-yard pass turned into a long TD when Wetjen outran the defense.
Allar also found Wetjen on a red-zone pass to the flat for another TD. Allar took the snap and rolled out, throwing on the run with a good lead to the WR.
His final TD was a five-yard option run.
Those splash plays stood out, but Allar also hit tight-window slants on time, even with some pressure in his face, though most of his completions still came from a clean pocket.
Perhaps most encouraging was Allar’s revamped mechanics. His feet and arm looked far more in sync than they did at Penn State, with his release timing matching his step up into the pocket.
His arm angle also looked a bit different than it did in college, with more arc before release that seemed to produce more consistent zip.
New Steelers HC Mike McCarthy already seems to be helping Allar, though it's still far too early to count on this level of play continuing.
But Does It Matter?
Similar to what we wrote after Carson Beck’s outstanding debut, a strong preseason opener doesn’t always translate to NFL success.
A sharp preseason debut is obviously better than an indecisive, turnover-filled one. The tougher question is how much a strong first game from a rookie QB actually matters, and the answer is mixed.
We've seen future franchise QBs come out of the gate hot. Most notably, Dak Prescott had a standout performance in his preseason opener, going 10 of 12 for 139 yards and 2 TDs. Baker Mayfield is another who looked sharp in his first preseason game (212 yards and 2 TDs).
We’ve also seen future busts light up their debuts. Justin Fields went 14 of 20 for 142 yards with a TD, plus 33 yards and another score on the ground. Kenny Pickett, also on the Steelers too, went 13 of 15 for 95 yards and 2 TDs before capping his preseason debut with a game-winning drive.
Bad preseason debuts aren't career killers either. Jared Goff completed just 44.4% of his passes with 1 INT in his preseason opener. C.J. Stroud had 13 yards and an INT himself, though perhaps we should have seen busts like Josh Rosen and Matt Corral coming after awful preseason performances.
Coaches handle preseason games for their rookie QBs differently and it can differ from drive to drive even. Some will overload their rookie QBs and try a full offensive install to see where they are mentally. Some will take baby steps to build confidence and aid development.
The same goes for the defensive side, where coverages can be very vanilla or overly complex, making miscues inevitable.
Take Allar's performance with a grain of salt, but it's still a promising start that should buy him more chances to impress in his bid to start in 2027.
Dynasty Impact: Superflex Stash Only
Dynasty certainly is the format to roster Allar, especially in superflex leagues. He is unlikely to start for the Steelers at any point this season. Mason Rudolph likely stays locked into the No. 2 role if Aaron Rodgers gets injured.
The only way for Allar to get starts would be for the Steelers to be knocked out of playoff contention.
Allar faces a few hurdles to actually start though. The Steelers could still invest in a first-round QB in 2027 (or bring in a veteran) if Allar doesn’t appear ready to start.
Will Howard could also stick around and force a competition even if the Steelers don’t make another 2027 investment at the position.
Now probably isn’t the time to trade for him, but keep an eye on our Trade Value Chart in case his value climbs throughout the preseason.
