The Steelers have four quarterbacks headed into training camp, but the real story isn’t the crowded room. It’s the unusual runway sitting in front of Drew Allar.
Pittsburgh’s rookie out of Penn State is in the mix this summer, but not in the same way the others are. Aaron Rodgers is one of the two names that look locked onto the 53-man roster, and Allar is not expected to be the odd man out.
The only true battle at quarterback, according to the setup here, is Mason Rudolph against Will Howard for the QB2 spot. For Allar, the assignment is simpler and tougher at the same time: learn, develop, and make the most of what Steelers legend Jerome Bettis called a “rare opportunity.”
“Hopefully he can pick up a whole lot. When you have a Hall of Fame player at your position in the building, you should soak up everything you can,” Bettis told Action Network.
“Hopefully that happens, and Drew sees it, understands it, and utilizes it. Because that’s a rare opportunity to have a player of that stature and ability in the building, so hopefully that helps springboard him to a great career as well.”
That’s the heart of it for Allar. He’s not walking into a pressure-cooker where the Steelers are demanding immediate answers. He’s entering a year built around growth, with Rodgers in the room and head coach Mike McCarthy working with him as he adjusts to the next level.
And the appeal is obvious. Bettis pointed to the physical traits that made Allar such an intriguing prospect in the first place, even after an injury last season pushed him down to the third round.
“You look at him, he’s a dynamic football player. He’s made some bad decisions in his day, and I think that’s what you gotta clean up.
But you look at the physical traits and ability, it’s there,” Bettis continued. “You look at him at the end of his junior year, there was talk about him being a top 10-15 pick.
He decided to come back, and it didn’t work out the way he wanted to, and got injured, and his stock fell, but it doesn’t change that his ability is still there. His capabilities are there.
I think he’s a really good quarterback that just needs to learn the NFL game, and you can’t ask for a better teacher than Aaron Rodgers.”
That’s why this season matters for Allar even if he isn’t in the immediate quarterback fight. If he absorbs enough, cleans up the rough edges, and grows the way the Steelers want, he could put himself in position to compete for a starting job next year.
For now, the opportunity is there. What Allar does with it could shape a lot more than this summer.
In Other News...
Steelers Fans Are Starting To Worry About A Supposed Defensive Anchor
The Steelers have spent the offseason adding pieces around a roster that already finished with an AFC North title, bringing in Michael Pittman, Rico Dowdle, Jamel Dean and Jaquan Brisker as they try to keep pace in a division that rarely gives anyone much breathing room. Even with those additions, ESPN analyst Mike Clay still pointed to inside linebacker as Pittsburghs weakest spot, a reminder that the middle of the defense remains under the microscope heading into the new year.
Patrick Queen is the name that hangs over that conversation. After arriving in Pittsburgh on a three-year deal in 2024 and earning a Pro Bowl nod that season, he has still left some uneven tape behind him, including a PFF finish last year that placed him near the bottom of the off-ball linebacker group. For a defense that wants stability from its supposed anchor, the question is whether Queen can turn that inconsistency into something much closer to the standard the Steelers thought they were buying. [Read more 🡒]
Former Chargers 1,000-Yard Back Suddenly Carries Unfinished Business Elsewhere
Seattles backfield has been in flux since Kenneth Walker III left for Kansas City in free agency, and the Seahawks have already added Jadarian Price and Emmanuel Wilson as they try to patch together depth. With Zach Charbonnet still working back from injury, the room is thin enough that the team is at least exploring veteran help, which has put a familiar name back into the conversation.
Najee Harris, a former Pro Bowler who made his biggest mark with Pittsburgh before a recent stint with the Chargers, has been mentioned as a possible fit for the Seahawks backfield mix. His rsum still carries weight, but the bigger question is whether Seattle sees him as a short-term insurance policy or something more, especially with the roster construction in that position still very much in motion. [Read more 🡒]
Former Steelers Tight End Suddenly Draws New AFC Buzz
Jonnu Smiths name is back in the AFC conversation after a career year with Miami put him on the radar of teams looking for help at tight end. Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports pointed to the former Steelers tight end as a free-agent option for Denver, where the Broncos have been searching for more production at a spot that has not given them much this season.
For Pittsburgh, Smiths rise is a familiar reminder of how quickly a veteran tight end can change a market when he finds the right fit. He flashed enough last year to make teams take notice, and the Broncos need only sharpens the intrigue around a player who has already shown he can still be a difference-maker after the catch. [Read more 🡒]