What Steelers' Mike McCarthy learned about Drew Allar after stellar preseason debut

Mike Kadlick of Sports Illustrated and Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports are among members of the NFL community who said that Pittsburgh Steelers 2026 third-round draft pick Drew Allar produced the most impressive performance among rookie quarterbacks who played in Week 1 of the preseason. 

In the Steelers' 28-9 win over the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 13, Allar completed 10 of 13 pass attempts for 153 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a score. 

Per Teresa Varley of the Steelers' website, first-year Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy was asked while speaking with reporters on Sunday regarding "what he has learned about Allar's skillset and how it fits the offensive philosophy." 

Drew Allar "can play through anything" the Steelers have thus far asked him to do

"I'll say this about Drew, and really the whole room, their abilities physically fit any offense," McCarthy explained. "I think as we get into this spot camp, we need to really hone in on specifically the concepts we want as I look on primary, secondary, auxiliary. Drew can play through anything that we've asked him to do conceptually."

The Steelers seemingly want to develop Allar slowly, as he was the team's third-choice option behind veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 rookie Will Howard against Green Bay. It's assumed that either Rudolph or Howard will serve as Pittsburgh's primary backup behind starter Aaron Rodgers for the Steelers' Week 1 home game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13, as long as either Rudolph or Howard is healthy. However, one wonders if Pittsburgh could look to trade either Howard or Rudolph if Allar impresses against the New York Jets this coming Friday and at the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 27.

Steelers addressing Drew Allar's biggest weakness this summer

"While the preseason can be full of overreactions and fool’s gold, there are two things in Allar’s favor," Steelers reporter Mike DeFabo of The Athletic wrote for an article published on Monday. "1) He’s not just any quarterback prospect. He has the high-level traits (arm talent, size, mobility) that once put him in the conversation as a possible first-round pick; and 2) McCarthy. His 'QB School' hammers fundamentals, especially footwork. That was Allar’s weakness entering the NFL. So while it’s going to take time for Allar to reach his ceiling, he’s in a setting that will help him unlock his potential."

Allar shouldn't take a meaningful in-game snap before September 2027 at the earliest unless disaster strikes the Steelers at some point over the next handful of months. Thus far, McCarthy's plan to develop the promising prospect seems to be producing positive results for everybody involved.