Former Steelers QB Gives His Input on Will Howard vs. Drew Allar
In the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Drew Allar out of Penn State, marking the second year in a row they selected a quarterback. The year prior, they took Will Howard out of Ohio State in the sixth round. Howard’s first year was spent on injury reserve, and then backing up Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph; he never saw the field. Now, as Allar enters the league and Howard is handed the keys to the Steelers offense for the time being, a question arises if Rodgers doesn’t return. While many expected a decision from Rodgers by this point, many are still hopeful he will return, as the Steelers recently placed a restricted free agent tender on Rodgers. However, Pittsburgh is ready to turn towards Howard or Allar if Rodgers does retire, and former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave his input.
For Steelers fans, it’s no secret that Roethlisberger is a huge fan of Howard. He has stated on multiple occasions that he believes the former National Champion from Ohio State should get the start this season. On ‘Big Ben’s’ podcast, he frequently mentions the skill, strength, and grit that Howard brings to the Steelers, believing he is a perfect fit for Pittsburgh. When asked about Allar, Roethlisberger said, “This is one that I’m not sure yet if I love it or hate it. I don’t watch a lot of Penn State games. When I did watch, he never jumped off the page to me. Is he big? Can he move? Can he throw? Yes, but there was never a time when I was like “whoa.”
While Allar’s collegiate career was cut short due to an ankle injury he suffered during his senior season, and he was aided by a strong run game, he never had a superstar season. After former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down from his role, and Mike McCarthy was brought in as his successor, there was a belief that Howard really could be the future, and McCarthy would be able to mold him into a top quarterback, like he’s done with so many before. NFL analysts believe that’s exactly why Allar went to the Steelers. The Penn State QB, who received a B draft grade, was said to be “the perfect quarterback in this class for Mike McCarthy to take to develop. He’s got the size, the arm, and the feet to evade pressure in the pocket. Unfortunately, he’s never had the accuracy. Can McCarthy fix that?” Both quarterbacks have plenty of weaknesses, and the Steelers’ new head coach will have to decide which he can fix more quickly.
Roethlisberger is fair to be skeptical of Allar, primarily due to the strong run game that Penn State showed during his time there. Led by Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, the Penn State backfield’s two-headed monster lit up every field they touched, taking enormous pressure off of Allar’s shoulders. Howard, on the other hand, led his team to a National Championship as the Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish on January 20th, 2025. This, combined with Howard’s one-season sitting behind a four-time NFL MVP, means Roethlisberger can safely say, “Will Howard has jumped off the tape to me way more than Drew has.”
The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback mentioned that the 85th overall pick, used to select Allar, could have been used elsewhere. The Steelers could have filled another position of need with the selection. ‘Big Ben’ does not mention any player or position he would have liked to see the Steelers take, but it’s unlikely he was thinking about the offensive line due to his mixed feelings about Max Iheanachor. ‘Big Ben’ is aware that he could be entirely wrong about Allar, and he’s not writing him off yet, saying, “The jury's still out for me right now. Again, there was nothing that jumped off the page for me. Whether that’s good or bad, I don’t know. We’ll see about this one.” Roethlisberger is exactly right; all the Steelers can do is wait and see. Regardless of who wins this quarterback battle, this will likely determine the future of the Steelers, and it will be a big decision.
