Did Steelers want Carson Beck over Drew Allar during 2026 NFL Draft?

Carson Beck from Miami and Drew Allar out of Penn State were two quarterbacks routinely linked with the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Arizona Cardinals eventually took a flier on Beck by drafting him in the third round with overall pick No. 65. Meanwhile, the Steelers later got Allar at selection No. 76. 

During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh's 102.5 WDVE, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed whether head coach Mike McCarthy would have pushed to grab Beck in the draft's third round if he and Allar both had been available.

Steelers always wanted Drew Allar over Carson Beck?

"I wasn't surprised because I knew they liked him," Dulac said about Pittsburgh drafting Allar, per Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "What I was surprised about is when I learned later that Mike McCarthy wanted Drew Allar over Carson Beck. Even if Carson Beck were there, they were gonna take Drew. When I learned that later, that was a little surprising to me because I knew Mike McCarthy liked Carson Beck and those guys around the third or fourth round." 

Allar was once an advertised first-round talent, but he then failed to impress on some big stages before he suffered a fractured ankle in the fall of 2025. Todd McShay is among the well-known NFL analysts who have noted that "Allar needs some work" before he should be given an opportunity to start meaningful games at the highest level. Such work should involve Allar serving as a backup for future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, who presumably could rejoin the Steelers at any point during springtime workouts. 

Will Steelers give up on Will Howard after drafting Drew Allar?

The Steelers also have 2025 rookie Will Howard and longtime backup Mason Rudolph on their roster. According to Jake Brockhoff of Steelers Depot, Dulac believes that Pittsburgh still wants "to take a look at" Howard over the next several months. However, Dulac added that he can't see the Steelers "going into a season with two guys who have never played an NFL game as backups" for Rodgers. 

Howard took no meaningful snaps during his rookie campaign, and McCarthy had nothing to do with the Steelers selecting Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 draft. In short, Howard may have to impress and stay healthy from training camp through the end of the preseason to have a spot on the Pittsburgh roster when the regular season gets underway in September.