Drew Allar is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks heading into the 2026 NFL draft. He has a strong arm, immense size, and offers teams the possibility of long-term upside. While he did have some setbacks in his final year at [Penn State](https://lastwordonsports.com/collegefootball/category/bigten/penn-state-nittany-lions/) due to inconsistent play and injury, his overall skillset makes him an interesting prospect.
Allar is someone who may not be a day one starter, but after a year or two under a veteran and the right coaching staff, he could be a QB1 option down the road.
**Position:** Quarterback
**School:** Penn State Nittany Lions
**Height / Weight:** 6’5, 235 lbs.
**Draft Class:** 2026 NFL Draft
**Hometown:** Medina, Ohio
**Projected Draft Range:** Mid-Day 2 to Day 3
**Penn State Background and Statistics**
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* **Height / Weight:** 6‑5, 235 lbs. – This is an ideal size for an NFL quarterback.
* **Recruiting:** He was ranked among the top QBs in his class and was a 5-star recruit.
* **Career Stats:** Just under 7,500 passing yards with 61 TD’s and 13 INT’s
* **Strengths:** Strong arm talent, great size, and excellent pocket awareness.
**Strengths**
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* **Arm Talent:** He can make the short and long throws with a strong velocity.
* **Size & Frame:** A 6‑5, 235-lb frame, he has the stature the NFL looks for in its QB’s.
* **Ball Security:** He does not have a record of high turnovers.
* **Pocket Mobility:** He has solid pocket presence. While he is not a running QB, he is still good at evading sacks.
**Areas for Improvement**
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* **Consistency & Decision-Making:** He sometimes takes risks he does not need to under pressure, which can impact his accuracy.
* **Mechanics Under Pressure:** When the defense collapses the pocket, his footwork can break down.
* **Development Needs:** He is a project for a year or two under the right QB coach and veteran QB.
**Draft Projection & Team Fit**
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Allar projects as a developmental quarterback with high upside. Teams that have invested in a strong quarterbacks coach who can patiently develop him may be able to turn him into a starter in the future. Once he develops his arm talent a bit more and proves he can dictate reads at the NFL level, he can become a long-term asset for any team. Allar’s projected draft range will be mid-Day 2 to Day 3.
**What Analysts Are Saying About Drew Allar
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**Todd McShay (CBS Sports / The McShay Show)**
_“I like him, and I like him more than I thought I was going to, watching tape… I need to see more… he’s here, I don’t know, he’s down to, like, the 10‑yard line, but he’s still got 10 hard yards to earn to get to where I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, we can talk about him as QB1 this year.’”_ — McShay on how Allar needs to prove himself to be a top‑10 pick.
**Mel Kiper (ESPN)**
_“He is so damn close and he is so damn talented and, and I do legitimately think he has a chance to be a top 10 pick._”
**Matt Miller (ESPN)**
_“Allar flashes brilliance with a big arm and good mobility… but his decision‑making is very hit‑or‑miss, especially against top opponents. His ability to clean up mental mistakes will determine where his stock goes… Allar could be the top QB in the class_ _… or slip to Day_ _3.__”_
Final Take
Drew Allar possesses what many NFL teams are looking for in a quarterback. He has excellent arm strength, the right size and stature, and excellent ball security. While his inconsistency and prior injuries are reasons for concern, he has the potential to be a high-upside, developmental quarterback.
_If you want a full look at where this Drew Allar NFL Draft profile stacks up against the rest of the class, check out our latest [**2026 NFL Draft Big Board Version One**](https://lastwordonsports.com/nfl/2026/02/11/2026-nfl-draft-big-board-version-one/), where we break down the top prospects across every position._
Main Photo Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images