The Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason debut of Drew Allar went well on Thursday night. So well, in fact, that the Steelers Pro Shop sold out of his jerseys. Steelers fans are longing for a long-term answer at quarterback. Allar has the potential to be that. It isn’t a guarantee, however. He is a flawed passer who needs extensive refinement and work. Allar likely won’t see regular-season snaps until at least 2027. The good news is that the Steelers have an ideal coach to develop him in head coach Mike McCarthy. A plan has been set for Allar, and a longtime beat writer is now confirming that outlook.
Mark Kaboly was on 93.7 The Fan and gave his thoughts on Allar’s long-term outlook. Is he the next quarterback with a chance to become the future of the Steelers?
“I believe everything he said right there, that they’d have a first-round value on him. But that’s different from taking him in the first round. They mentioned the issues they faced that pushed him down the board. Right now in their minds, they’re thinking that Drew Allar is their QB1 next year. That’s the way they’re going to go into it. A lot of things can change … I think that’s the case, that’s what they’re looking at.” Kaboly said.
After McCarthy’s comments on Pat McAfee Show, the plan is becoming more clear
Kaboly’s comments line up with what McCarthy said on The Pat McAfee Show last week. McCarthy spoke highly of Allar and made it clear that he sees the young quarterback as someone he can develop. That endorsement becomes even more significant when considering Allar’s projected timeline with the Steelers.
McCarthy has spent decades working with quarterbacks. Pittsburgh appears willing to give him the time necessary to mold Allar. The Steelers may not expect him to be ready immediately, but they clearly believe his physical tools and potential give them something worth developing.
Steelers need to get the most development out of Allar in this “redshirt” year
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The expectations surrounding Allar need to be simmered down. He is a rookie who has played only one preseason game at the NFL level. His talent and upside are undeniable, but he also has plenty of areas that need improvement before the Steelers can confidently hand him the keys to the franchise.
That makes this redshirt year especially important. Allar needs to improve his accuracy, consistency, decision-making and overall command of the offense. If McCarthy can maximize those areas, the Steelers could enter 2027 with a legitimate opportunity to determine whether Allar can become their long-term answer at quarterback.
