Matt Johnson
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still hoping that Aaron Rodgers will be their starting quarterback in 2026, giving them another year to determine who will be the new face of the franchise. However, there could already be a leader for the long-term gig.
Mark Kaboly said in a recent mailbag that, as of now, he believes Drew Allar will be the Steelers starting quarterback in 2027.
“I’d have to say Allar right now before he even steps on the field for the rookie minicamp at the end of the week. He’s a higher pick, he has more of the tangibles to his game, and, maybe the most important, hand-picked by McCarthy.”
Mark Kaboly on who will be the Pittsburgh Steelers starting QB in 2027
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There seemed to be some positive buzz surrounding quarterback Will Howard just a few months ago. Selected with the 185th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the 6-foot-4 signal-caller seemed to have a shot at being the guy in 2027.
However, the hiring of head coach Mike McCarthy seemed to put a stop to that. Pittsburgh used a third-round pick on former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, using the 76th overall pick on a project prospect.
Related: Mike Tomlin Predicts if Aaron Rodgers Returns to Steelers
The draft capital invested into Allar versus Howard paired with the fact that he was the quarterback prospect hand-picked by McCarthy certainly carries a lot of weight. With that said, Howard has already spent a season in the NFL and he has built some rapport with the receivers.
Allar’s physical tools are enticing, but he didn’t show much development during his tenure at Penn State. For McCarthy and the Steelers coaching staff, it’s going to take significant time to work out his issues and prepare him to become a potential starting-caliber NFL quarterback.
At least for now, though, Allar seems poised to be the next face of the franchise in Pittsburgh. One thing is for certain: the Steelers’ current quarterback situation highlights why the organization badly wants Rodgers to return for the 2026 campaign.
