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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially locked up a potential successor to Aaron Rodgers, signing rookie quarterback Drew Allar to his first NFL contract just days before the team reports for training camp.
The deal completes contracts for all of Pittsburgh's 2026 draft picks, giving the Steelers another young quarterback to develop behind Rodgers, along with Ohio State's Will Howard, who the team drafted in the sixth round last year.
Rodgers decided to return for the 2026 season on a one-year contract, but the four-time MVP has already indicated that this will likely be his last NFL season, making the search for his eventual successor one of the biggest priorities for Pittsburgh.
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Allar could be that guy.
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Pittsburgh selected the Penn State product with the No. 76 overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, using a selection acquired by the Dallas Cowboys in the trade that sent star wide receiver George Pickens to Dallas.
Allar was the fourth quarterback taken in the draft, behind Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, and Carson Beck. That draft investment suggests the Steelers see enough upside in him to potentially develop into more than just a backup.
Allar finished his Penn State career having appeared in 45 games, including 35 starts. He completed 63.2% of his for throws for 7,402 yards, 61 touchdowns, and just 13 interceptions, with a career passer rating ot 142.7.
His best season came in 2024, when he threw for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions across 16 games, completing 66.5% of his passes to go along with 302 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Allard led the Nittany Lions to a 13-3 overall record and the College Football Playoff semifinal, where they only narrowly fell 27-24 to Notre Dame.
In his final 2025 season at Penn State, he threw for 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions across six games before a season-ending ankle injury brought his college career to an end.
Still, at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Allar has the size, rushing ability, and arm talent teams covet, and he's already proven he can lead and produce at a high level.
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For now, Allar will enter training camp competing with Howard and Mason Rudolph for a backup role behind Rodgers.
But by spending a third-round pick on a highly recruited Penn State quarterback like Allar, and now getting him under contract, Pittsburgh clearly believes he may have what it takes to take over for Rodgers once the future Hall of Famer hangs it up.
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