Will Howard may soon face serious competition in his bid to become the Steelers’ starting quarterback. If signals from Penn State prospect Drew Allar prove accurate, the battle for QB1 in Pittsburgh could get intense.
Allar is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 draft class. Although his 2025 season was cut short by injury, the former Nittany Lions star posted impressive career numbers:
- 633 completions on 1,002 attempts
- 63.2% completion rate
- 7,402 passing yards
- 61 touchdown passes
- 13 interceptions
- 142.7 passer rating
His performance earned him several formal interviews at this weekend’s NFL Scouting Combine, including one with the Steelers. Following the event, changes in his social media activity sparked speculation among fans and analysts.
Is Drew Allar headed to Pittsburgh?
On Monday, fans noticed a telling move on Allar’s Instagram account: he began following wide receiver DK Metcalf and quarterback Will Howard.
The activity fueled speculation following the meeting between Allar and head coach Mike McCarthy during the Combine. Many fans now anticipate a renewed rivalry between Allar and Howard.
As Essentially Sports writer, Aman Joe, noted, Howard spent his senior year at Ohio State, bitter rival of Penn State in the Big Ten. That rivalry could soon spill over into the NFL.
Howard, drafted 185th overall last year, spent his rookie season learning from veterans Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, hoping to earn the starting job this year.
The quarterback question in Pittsburgh
As Joe pointed out, the futures of both Allar and Howard hinge on Rodgers’ decision. The 22-year veteran has yet to announce his plans for the upcoming season.
If Rodgers returns for one more run at the Super Bowl alongside McCarthy, it’s unlikely the Steelers will draft a quarterback in 2026.
But if Rodgers retires, fans could see Howard and Allar battling for the starting job on McCarthy’s depth chart.
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