Post-combine NFL mock draft just extended the Penn State/Ohio State rivalry

With a massive 6-foot-5 frame and a rocket arm, Drew Allar was built to show out at the NFL Scouting Combine, and that’s exactly what he did in Indianapolis on Saturday. Allar’s throwing sessions had all of his arm talent on display, and despite missing half of his senior season, Allar is climbing back up draft boards. 

That climb has brought the former Penn State QB to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 76 overall in Saturday Blitz’s post-combine three-round mock draft. While Pittsburgh is awaiting Aaron Rodgers decision and could reunite the future Hall of Famer with Mike McCarthy for his first season in Pittsburgh, Allar would immediately enter a competition with Pennsylvania native and former Ohio State Buckeye, Will Howard. 

If he lands in Pittsburgh, Drew Allar would get another shot at taking down Will Howard

McCarthy was complimentary of Howard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after leading Ohio State to the national championship, in his introductory press conference, but that doesn’t exempt the Steelers from adding to their QB room, especially not with a high-upside swing like Allar. 

Howard grew up in Downingtown, PA, but did not receive an offer from Penn State in the 2020 recruiting class. He then spent four years at Kansas State before exacting his revenge on the Nittany Lions at Ohio State, beating James Franklin’s team 20-13 despite throwing a pick-six in the first quarter. 

As he was coming out of the 2022 high school class, Allar was the more talented player and more highly regarded. Still, Howard had more success in college and showed out on the biggest stage, leading Ohio State’s emphatic run through the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, Allar went 0-2 against Ohio State as a starter, completing 30 of his 62 attempts for 337 yards and one touchdown with one interception across the two games. 

Howard injured his thumb in training camp last season and did not see the field in his first year. However, he has his supporters within the Steelers’ organization. If Rodgers opts to retire, Howard will likely be given every opportunity to win the starting job, even if the Steelers spend one of their two third-round selections on Allar, as Nicholas Rome of Saturday Blitz is predicting. 

While Howard has the head-to-head win over Allar and a year in the NFL, it would be malpractice for the Steelers to simply hand Howard the starting job. Unless, in this mock draft scenario, they’re doing it to protect Allar and allow him to develop on the bench for a year before getting his shot to start. 

Even that, though, is a flawed plan. The 2027 NFL Draft appears to be loaded with quarterback talent, and even if they draft Allar, the Steelers will still be in the market for a QB if they don’t get immediate returns on their investment. 

Allar has the talent to succeed in the NFL. He never put it all together at Penn State, but he has a better chance of becoming a franchise quarterback at the next level than Will Howard does, and wherever he ultimately lands, Allar’s draft slot will reflect that.