Drew Allar absolutely knocked it out of the park in his NFL preseason debut Thursday night, spearheading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 28-9 win over the Green Bay Packers. This kid was seriously impressive, especially for a franchise that’s relying on Aaron Rodgers to get them through just the next year, with not much direction clear after that.
Allar Dropped Dimes and Scored TDs
Let’s talk about the numbers, because they tell the story. Allar went 10-of-13 passing for 153 yards, tossing two passing touchdowns like it was nothing. Then, just for good measure, he notched a 3-yard rushing touchdown. That’s three scores in his first-ever NFL game, folks! For a rookie third-rounder stepping onto the field, that’s the kind of performance that gets an entire city buzzing.
Not So Fast, Says One NFL Analyst
But hold up a minute. Don’t go crowning this dude king just yet. One NFL analyst, Moe Moton of Bleacher Report, is already pouring some serious cold water on all that hype. Moton came right out and said that believing Allar will “take over after Aaron Rodgers retires at the conclusion of the 2026 season” is a “premature projection.” It’s a tough pill to swallow, but he’s got a point. Playing against third- and fourth-stringers in August is way different from facing starters in September, right?
Moton hammered home that Allar might need “an extensive developmental process” to reshape his quarterback mechanics and decision-making. Look, he’s going to get “great development” in Pittsburgh, no doubt. But before we get too wild, Moton wants to “see the rookie third-rounder perform well against tougher competition” before crowning him the heir to Rodgers’ position. Taking over for a legend like Rodgers is going to demand someone really, really good.
So, while Allar’s debut was electric, the real test starts now. Can this rookie third-rounder keep developing and show out when the competition gets serious? Pittsburgh’s long-term future after Aaron Rodgers steps away in 2026 might just depend on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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