Drew Allar absolutely lit up his first preseason games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading touchdown drives on each of his initial three possessions in a Steelers uniform. The third-round quarterback, who had an up-and-down college career at Penn State, looked super comfortable in the pocket, completing 10-of-13 passes for a cool 153 yards. He even tossed two passing touchdowns and snagged a rushing score himself. It was one heck of a first impression, showing off skill and accuracy that quieted some of those college-era knocks about missing easy throws.
The Harsh Reality of the Depth Chart
Despite Allar’s undeniable flash, former NFL offensive lineman and current FOX analyst Geoff Schwartz isn’t buying into the hype for his long-term future. Schwartz dropped a bomb via FOX Sports Radio, stating that Allar is “unlikely to get a chance to be good in the NFL because he’s not going to get an opportunity to play.” That’s a brutal take after such a strong debut, but Schwartz’s reasoning is all about the depth chart. Aaron Rodgers is locked in as the 2026 starting quarterback. Plus, Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are in a fierce battle for that backup spot. Allar is definitely making the roster, there’s no doubt about that, but he’s shaping up to be the third-string guy, which means those game reps are gonna be few and far between.
A Bleak Outlook for 2027 and Beyond
The lack of playing time could really hurt Allar’s chances to prove he’s the Steelers’ guy for the future. Schwartz didn’t pull any punches, predicting that the Steelers are “going to draft a quarterback” next year. He even added, “He might never get a chance in this league.” Ouch. The 2027 draft class is already being talked up as loaded with talent, with names like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and LaNorris Sellers floating around. Remember, the 2026 class didn’t quite live up to its advertising, even though Allar himself was once seen as a first-round pick heading into his college season. The pressure is on.
Allar has two more shots to show off what he can do in the preseason. The Steelers are hosting the New York Jets this Friday, and then they’re heading to Buffalo next Thursday to face the Bills. After that, it’s real deal time, with the regular season kicking off against Atlanta on September 13. These next two games are huge for Allar to somehow change that narrative from Geoff Schwartz. Let’s see if he can make some noise and force the Steelers to rethink things.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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