With the pre-draft season moving quickly, the NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone. While some fans believe the event matters less for quarterbacks than it does for other positions, league evaluators strongly disagree. The combine remains a critical checkpoint in the scouting process, from interviews with teams to on-field throwing sessions and the competitiveness prospects show throughout the week.
For quarterbacks especially, it’s about more than just throwing passes. Teams pay close attention to how players process information in meetings, how they handle pressure in interviews, and how well they demonstrate their understanding of the game.
ESPN's Jordan Reid has Penn State QB Drew Allar rising
One name beginning to generate renewed buzz in the draft conversation is Drew Allar. After spending much of the 2025 season out of the spotlight due to injury and inconsistent play, the Penn State quarterback is rebuilding momentum in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft.
In his updated quarterback “hot board,” ESPN's Jordan Reid ranked Allar as his No. 5 quarterback in the class. Whether that ranking is partly influenced by a somewhat underwhelming quarterback group overall remains to be seen, but one thing hasn’t changed in the NFL: quarterbacks will always be in demand.
According to Reid, Allar’s physical profile and arm talent are the traits that keep evaluators intrigued.
At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Allar possesses the prototypical build teams covet at the position. His arm strength is another standout trait, he drives the ball downfield and attacks tight windows with ease when he lets it rip.
Reid also highlighted Allar’s effective throwing ability between the numbers, delivering passes over the middle with velocity and timing. That part of his game was particularly effective during his 2024 campaign, when he frequently connected with tight end Tyler Warren in the middle of the field.
Allar also brings a solid amount of experience to the table. Over the course of his college career, he started 35 games and appeared in 45, giving scouts a sizable sample to evaluate.
Penn State's QB remains a fascinating draft evaluation
The biggest concern surrounding Allar’s draft profile is accuracy, which remains the primary question evaluators are trying to answer.
His accuracy numbers regressed during the 2025 season, finishing with a 12.5 percent off-target throw rate, ranking 94th in the FBS. For a quarterback with elite physical tools, that level of inconsistency is something teams will continue to scrutinize throughout the pre-draft process.
One AFC assistant general manager summed up the concern bluntly:
“The biggest issue is that he looks good against the low- and middle-tier teams but hasn’t had that signature performance any time he plays against the elite ones.”
For NFL decision-makers, traits and physical tools matter. But what they value even more, particularly at quarterback, is the ability to elevate performance in the biggest moments and against the best competition.
Allar’s pre-draft journey is one of the more intriguing storylines leading up to the draft.
If he lands with the right organization, one willing to develop his tools and refine his mechanics, his upside could allow him to outperform his eventual draft slot. But if he ends up in the wrong situation, the same issues that held him back in college could continue to limit his development.
Either way, as the path to the 2026 NFL Draft unfolds, Allar is shaping up to be one of the more fascinating quarterback evaluations in this year’s class.