Former NFL QB believes Drew Allar’s draft hype is starting to settle

As the 2026 NFL Draft conversation heats up following the combine, the quarterback discussion remains one of the most fluid storylines in the class.

While names like Garrett Nussmeier and Carson Beck dominate headlines for much of the pre-draft cycle, another quarterback is quietly working his way back into the conversation: Penn State football's Drew Allar.

Chase Daniel sees Penn State's Drew Allar as potential QB3 in 2026 Draft

For a while, Allar felt like a forgotten name in the class.

The former Nittany Lion entered the season with massive expectations. Many analysts once viewed him as a potential QB1 candidate, and even a top-five pick. The year, however, didn’t unfold the way many expected.

Allar struggled finding a consistent rhythm early in the season, posting a PFSN CFB QB Impact Score of 78.7, which ranked 71st nationally. His campaign was also cut short after six games due to an ankle injury, preventing him from regaining momentum and leaving his draft stock in limbo.

Due of that, much of the public discussion shifted elsewhere.

Prospects like Nussmeier and Beck continued generating buzz, but Indiana's Fernando Mendoza  emerged as the only quarterback in the class many evaluators feel confident labeling as a clear top-tier prospect.

As the draft process continues and scouts dive deeper into film, Allar’s name is resurfacing.

Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel recently added fuel to that renewed conversation. After quote-tweeting a quarterback ranking from ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid, Daniel suggested that teams may still value Allar more than the public currently expects.

“I really think teams may like Drew Allar at QB3 late Day 2 / Early Day 3,” Daniel posted on Twitter/X.

That type of projection reflects a broader shift happening across draft circles right now.

While Allar’s 2025 season left plenty of questions, his overall résumé still shows flashes of the high-end talent that once made him one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in college football.

Prior to this season, he posted PFSN CFB QB Impact Grades inside the top 25 nationally in back-to-back years, demonstrating the kind of upside evaluators look for when projecting long-term NFL development.

Reid currently has Allar ranked as his QB5 in the class, but the former Penn Stater's pre-draft process so far, along with the raw potential he brings, could cause some evaluators to reconsider and move him higher on their boards.

Allar possesses prototypical size and arm strength, traits that consistently attract NFL scouts. He also brings three years of starting experience with Penn State and the type of leadership evaluators value at the position. Despite the ups and downs throughout his college career, Allar never pointed the finger elsewhere. Instead, he consistently took full accountability for his performances, whether the criticism was fully deserved or not.

Allar’s accuracy runs hot and cold, and his dropback and release mechanics remain inconsistent. He also lacks the elite mobility that allows some modern quarterbacks to escape pressure when plays break down — a trait NFL teams seek in a starting quarterback. Another downside is his ability to raise his game to the next level when the competition stiffens.

Still, the raw profile remains intriguing.

At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Allar possesses the type of tools that NFL teams often believe they can mold with the right coaching and system. In a quarterback class where certainty is limited beyond Mendoza, those physical tools make Allar a fascinating developmental option.

That’s why the buzz around him is stabilizing.

He may no longer carry the hype of a potential top-five selection, but as scouts revisit the tape and re-evaluate the class, Allar is steadily working his way back into the conversation.

If that trend continues, the former Penn State quarterback could ultimately land somewhere in the second through fourth rounds as a developmental prospect with legitimate upside.

In a draft class still searching for clarity, that kind of potential may be enough to keep Allar’s name rising as April approaches.