The legendary John Madden once quipped, “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.” It’s a sentiment that resonates deeply within the football community, emphasizing the need for a clear leader under center.
The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have taken this to heart with their recent draft moves, signaling their belief that Drew Allar could be their next franchise quarterback. Snagged in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Allar’s selection sets the stage for a summer of decisions in the Steel City.
The big question on everyone’s mind: Will veteran backup Mason Rudolph stick around, or will the team opt to develop two rookies with zero NFL games between them, keeping Will Howard as an understudy to Aaron Rodgers?
Madden’s theory highlights the challenge of developing even one quarterback, let alone two. Given this, it makes sense for the Steelers to focus their developmental efforts squarely on Allar.
But, there’s a compelling case for Howard as QB2. While Rudolph’s capabilities are well-documented, Howard has been making waves by taking second-team reps in OTAs.
Yet, despite this promising start, his spot on the roster isn’t guaranteed. Drafted in the sixth round, Howard comes with an average arm and mid-tier tools.
His collegiate success at Ohio State was largely due to the NFL-caliber talent surrounding him. Moreover, the current Steelers coaching staff wasn’t in place when Howard was drafted, and they clearly prioritized Allar, selecting him three rounds earlier.
Historically, the Steelers have drafted quarterbacks with higher picks than Howard, only to see them fade away behind established starters like Ben Roethlisberger. Remember Omar Jacobs from Bowling Green?
Drafted in the fifth round in 2006, he never saw the field. Dennis Dixon, a fifth-rounder in 2008, played just four games as a third-stringer.
Josh Dobbs and Landry Jones, both fourth-round picks, never made significant starts for Pittsburgh.
Comparing the collegiate environments of Allar and Howard is like night and day. Allar, during his tenure as Penn State’s starter, didn’t have a single wideout drafted into the NFL.
In stark contrast, Howard’s Ohio State experience was bolstered by teammates who found their way into the league, including two receivers and the likely top-five pick, Jeremiah Smith. In 2025 alone, 13 Buckeyes were drafted compared to seven from Penn State in 2026.
Despite the lack of NFL-level receivers, Allar still left his mark, finishing third all-time in touchdown passes at Penn State and throwing a mere 13 interceptions over 45 games. Once pegged as a first-round talent, a challenging 2025 season marred by injury saw Allar’s draft stock dip.
Yet, his impressive arm talent and ideal size led the Steelers to invest heavily in the Medina, Ohio native.
While there’s no guarantee that Allar will be the Steelers’ savior or that Howard won’t surprise us, the focus here is clear: grooming two quarterbacks simultaneously is a recipe for confusion. By putting their full faith and resources into developing Allar, the Steelers increase their odds of finding success at the quarterback position. It’s time for Pittsburgh to put all their eggs in the Drew Allar basket and see where this promising path leads.
