The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in Pittsburgh, and with the Steelers holding 12 selections, the team appears to be in prime position to secure its quarterback of the future no matter where their first pick lands.
This upcoming quarterback class looks promising, even without Arch Manning—who was once expected to be part of it. Still, those top prospects will need strong and healthy 2025 seasons to solidify themselves as first-round talents.
Patience will be key, but draft talk never really stops in the NFL. In its latest mock draft, Bleacher Report, after more film study and context on the class, projected the Steelers to land their next potential franchise quarterback.
Steelers could land the QB who changes everything in 2026
Bleacher Report projected Penn State quarterback Drew Allar to the Steelers at No. 19 overall, a draft position that would suggest another early playoff exit for Pittsburgh. Even so, Allar is widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the 2026 quarterback class and would bring plenty of excitement to the franchise.
In 2024, Allar guided Penn State to a program-record 13 victories and came close to delivering the school’s first College Football Playoff championship game appearance. He threw for 3,327 yards while completing 66.5% of his passes, with 24 touchdowns against eight interceptions, and added 302 rushing yards with six scores on the ground.
Replicating those numbers could be challenging, as Allar no longer has his top target—tight end Tyler Warren, now in the NFL—and Penn State is still searching for a true playmaker at wide receiver. As analyst Daniel Jeremiah noted, Allar must also sharpen his consistency on routine throws.
Still, the senior signal-caller checks a lot of boxes for a Pittsburgh quarterback. At 6’5”, 236 pounds, he has the size and mobility to thrive in the AFC North. While some fans might prefer Garrett Nussmeier, LaNorris Sellers, or Cade Klubnik—all projected to go earlier in the mock draft—Allar would hardly be a fallback option if he’s the pick.
Interestingly, the Steelers have never drafted a Penn State quarterback, though they’ve taken six from the University of Pittsburgh—with minimal success. Having once passed on Pitt’s most legendary QB, the franchise may not want to make the same mistake with another highly regarded Keystone State prospect if Allar is available in 2026.
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