The Pittsburgh Steelers made headlines in the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round—a move that has drawn sharp criticism from draft analysts and raised eyebrows across the league.

While the Steelers are expected to welcome veteran Aaron Rodgers under center and have seen early promise from backup Will Howard, the team still opted to invest in a young signal-caller. Allar, a 6-foot-5 prospect with a strong arm, entered the draft with mixed evaluations. But according to NFL draft analyst Matt Waldman, the pick is a major head-scratcher.

Waldman didn't mince words in his assessment. "Allar's acumen for processing coverage and managing the game is lacking," he wrote. "His accuracy and decision-making fall apart in moments that are remedial for NFL quarterbacks." The analyst went so far as to give Allar a pre-draft grade of 60.5—the equivalent of a low-end street free agent unlikely to earn a futures contract. He also noted that fantasy football managers have already begun drafting Allar as a fourth-round rookie pick, a reflection of the Steelers' third-round investment.

The criticism extends beyond one analyst. The Steelers' track record of drafting quarterbacks has been a sore spot for over two decades. Since their last successful homegrown starter at the position, the team has selected 10 quarterbacks—four between the first and fourth rounds—without finding a long-term answer. That history adds extra weight to every QB pick the franchise makes.

While we're not ready to write off Allar entirely, his college film reveals a player who lacks standout traits. As former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin often said, the key to success is doing routine things routinely—and that's an area where Allar has struggled.

For Steelers fans and fantasy owners alike, this pick represents a gamble on potential. But in a league where quarterback development is an art form, the jury will remain out until Allar gets his shot under the bright lights. Until then, the debate over his future—and the team's drafting strategy—will only intensify.