The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent the last few years searching for their next franchise quarterback. While they’ve taken some chances, nothing has panned out yet. However, they’ve got a new face in that room after spending a third-round pick on Drew Allar this year. Allar is a long shot to fix the Steelers’ quarterback problem, but he’s got the natural gifts to succeed in the NFL.
And Brian Baldinger is intrigued to see what he can become under Mike McCarthy’s tutelage.
“I was a big fan of Drew Allar,” Baldinger said recently on his Best Football Show podcast. “I know he broke his ankle last year. I know he wasn’t great in big games consistently, Ohio State, Michigan. I get it. I also don’t think he was very well-coached at Penn State. And I’m not putting the blame on James Franklin or anybody else.
“That’s just guys I talk to at Penn State. I want to see Drew Allar with Mike McCarthy. The guy has coached great quarterbacks, and not all of them were great when he got them. Some of them were young. I want to see Drew Allar, who’s got an NFL arm, probably as good an arm as anybody in this draft, and probably a top-10 arm in the league right now.”
It’s one thing to say that Allar has the best arm strength in his draft class. That’s a fair statement, especially considering how weak this class was. It’s another thing entirely to put him in the same conversation as players like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. They’re some of the most talented players at the position ever.
However, there might be some credence to Baldinger’s words. Allar’s arm strength was regularly on display in college. If nothing else, the young quarterback can push the ball downfield. It’s clear how special he can be when he lets it fly.
That’s why the Steelers are taking a chance on him. McCarthy has worked with some of the league’s best quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre, both of whom had cannons for arms. He could be the one to unlock Allar’s potential.
Still, it takes more to succeed in the NFL than a big arm. Allar has a lot to work on to be a viable starting quarterback. That big arm doesn’t matter if he can’t hit his target downfield.
Allar is a boom-or-bust prospect. He’s worth taking a swing on, especially for a team like the Steelers. If he shows growth, great. Maybe he can compete for the starting job next year. However, if it becomes clear that he’s not developing, then the Steelers don’t lose much. They’re likely going to target a quarterback early in next year’s draft anyway. Allar could be a fun wild card to have, though.
