After his dazzling preseason debut against the Green Bay Packers last week, many were quick to anoint Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Drew Allar as the team’s successor to future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran for another score. In fact, his performance caught the attention of so many, the Steelers’ pro shop sold out of Allar’s jersey.
But what many are overlooking is Allar’s impressive stat line came against the Packers’ second- and third-stringers. The Penn State alum also isn’t getting the bulk of Pittsburgh’s first-team reps in practice either. That Allar is the Steelers’ sure-fire replacement for Rodgers is a reckless assertion, and one that the Bleacher Report scouting department doesn’t agree with, which is why they have Pittsburgh drafting Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker with the 13th overall pick in their recent mock draft.
They're developmental options. He will face a big step up in competition at Oklahoma State, but he’ll be playing in the same offense he did a year ago as head coach Eric Morris, who brought Mestemaker to North Texas, will also be his head coach again next season in Stillwater. Adding a player like Mestemaker to compete with Allar and Will Howard, a sixth-round pick of the Steelers in 2025, would be a great way for Pittsburgh to ensure it has a strong succession plan for when Rodgers retires next offseason.
It’s unlikely Allar or Howard will see much, if any, playing time this season as long as Rodgers is healthy.
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