Here’s to the Quarterback Competition of the Future. Maybe.
Sure, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have the present matter to deal with as they wait on definitive word from Aaron Rodgers about whether he’ll return for a 22nd NFL season.
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Yet in drafting Penn State’s Drew Allar with a third-round pick on Friday night – a year after onboarding former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard with a fourth-round pick – the Steelers are loaded with potential A-Rod understudies.
Hey, you can never have enough quarterbacks, right?
Well, yes and no. If you don’t have THE quarterback, you don’t have A quarterback.
2026 NFL Draft Round 2 and 3 grades: Analysis for every pick
In the meantime, Allar can hop on the learning curve alongside Howard as they try to prove themselves as viable options to cut it in the NFL. It’s quite the plot twist for a franchise held up by the drama surrounding Rodgers and the possibility that he might retire rather than reunite with Mike McCarthy and run it back for another shot at glory.
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Allar, picked 76th overall, has attractive size and arm strength, yet his inconsistency has raised eyebrows. Then his senior season was cut short in October by a broken ankle.
Now he’s a project for McCarthy, the new Steelers coach, whose track record for developing quarterbacks includes his work with Dak Prescott, Aaron Brooks and, well, Rodgers. Add the potential opportunity to be in the same room with Rodgers, and Allar has certainly landed in a good spot.
1 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
33. San Francisco 49ers (from Jets): De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Mississippi
The 2026 NFL Draft continues Friday, April 24, as teams move into Rounds 2 and 3.
See how the next wave of prospects comes off the board as draft weekend rolls on.
1 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
33. San Francisco 49ers (from Jets): De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Mississippi
The 2026 NFL Draft continues Friday, April 24, as teams move into Rounds 2 and 3.
See how the next wave of prospects comes off the board as draft weekend rolls on.
2 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
34. Arizona Cardinals: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
35. Buffalo Bills: T.J. Parker, DE/LB, Clemson
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
36. Houston Texans (from Raiders): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
37. New York Giants: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
38. Las Vegas Raiders (from Commanders via Texans): Treydan Stukes, CB/S, Arizona
7 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
39. Cleveland Browns: WR Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
40. Kansas City Chiefs: R Mason Thomas, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Cashius Howell, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
42. New Orleans Saints: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
43. Miami Dolphins: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
44. Detroit Lions (from Cowboys via Jets): Derrick Moore, DE, Michigan
13 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
45. Baltimore Ravens: Zion Young, DE/OLB, Missouri
14 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
47. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Colts): Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
48. Atlanta Falcons: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
49. Carolina Panthers (from Vikings): Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
50. New York Jets (from Lions): D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
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51. Minnesota Vikings (from Panthers): LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
52. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
53. Indianapolis Colts (from Steelers): LB CJ Allen, Georgia
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
55. New England Patriots (from Chargers): Gabe Jacas, DE/OLB, Illinois
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
57. Chicago Bears: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
58. Cleveland Browns (from 49ers): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
59. Houston Texans: Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
60. Tennessee Titans (from Bills via Bears): Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
61. Los Angeles Rams: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
62. Buffalo Bills (from Broncos): Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
63. Los Angeles Chargers (from Patriots): Jake Slaughter, G/C, Florida
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
64. Seattle Seahawks: Bud Clark, S, TCU
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
65. Arizona Cardinals: Carson Beck, QB, Miami (Fla.)
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
66. Denver Broncos (from Titans via Bills): Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M
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67. Las Vegas Raiders: Keyron Crawford, DE/OLB, Auburn
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
68. Philadelphia Eagles (from Jets): Markel Bell, OT, Miami (Fla.)
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
69. Chicago Bears (from Texans via Giants and Bears): Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
70. San Francisco 49ers (from Browns): Romello Height, DE/OLB, Texas Tech
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71. Washington Commanders: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
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72. Cincinnati Bengals: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
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73. New Orleans Saints: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
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74. New York Giants (from Chiefs and Browns): Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
75. Miami Dolphins: Caleb Douglas, WR, Texas Tech
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
76. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Cowboys): Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
77. Green Bay Packers (from Buccaneers): Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
78. Indianapolis Colts: AJ Haulcy, S, LSU
47 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
79. Atlanta Falcons: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
80. Baltimore Ravens: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
81. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Lions): Albert Regis, DT, Texas A&M
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82. Minnesota Vikings: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
83. Carolina Panthers: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Packers): Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
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85. Pittsburgh Steelers: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
86. Cleveland Browns (from Chargers): Austin Barber, OT, Florida
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87. Miami Dolphins (from Eagles): Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
89. Chicago Bears: Zavion Thomas, WR, LSU
58 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
90. San Francisco 49ers (from Dolphins via Texans): Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
91. Las Vegas Raiders (from Bills via Texans): Trey Zuhn III, G, Texas A&M
60 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
92. Dallas Cowboys (from 49ers): Jaishawn Barham, OLB, Michigan
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
93. Los Angeles Rams: Keagen Trost, OT/G, Missouri
62 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
94. Miami Dolphins (from Broncos): Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
63 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
95. New England Patriots: Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame
64 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
96. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Seahawks): Gennings Dunker, OT/G, Iowa
65 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
97. Minnesota Vikings (Compensatory Selection): Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
66 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
98. Minnesota Vikings (from Eagles; Compensatory Selection): Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami (Fla.)
67 / 68
Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
99. Seattle Seahawks (from Steelers; Compensatory Selection): Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
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Every pick from Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft
100. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Lions; Special Compensatory Selection): Jalen Huskey, CB/S, Maryland
Then there’s the competition with Howard, which for the foreseeable future amounts to a position in the pecking order behind Rodgers (conceivably) and veteran Mason Rudolph. Those often-limited reps for backups will be so precious for two developmental quarterbacks.
“We’ll have a great plan for that,” Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth said during a draft-night press conference. “We’ll have a really good room, with Mason Rudolph and his experience.”
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Not to mention the main man in the projected QB Room, Rodgers.
Of course, picking Allar, like Howard last year, is hardly any kind of hedge against what happens with the 42-year-old Rodgers. Yet it is still a shrewd move for GM Omar Khan and McCarthy to stack the room with prospects.
Maybe they’ll strike oil? There are enough examples of underdogs rising to the circumstances of their opportunity. Regardless, in a league where there are never enough solid quarterbacks, there is value in options.
It’s also possible that in a draft next year that projects to be deep in quarterbacks, the Steelers can find themselves still searching for that long-term answer.
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For now, there’s a competition to fire up with Allar and Howard – even if for the near future it is for the duty of running the scout team.
As Arth put it, “I think it’ll bring out their best.”
Yet there’s an even better short-term idea for the Steelers: Hurry back, A-Rod
Contact Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Drew Allar plot twist gives Steelers a full QB room, but not a competition
Steelers pull QB plot twist while waiting on Aaron Rogers. Enter Drew Allar | Opinion Top World News Today.
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