Drew Allar
Getty
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a backup quarterback to Baker Mayfield in 2026 — they might be able to find one in the 2026 NFL draft. And at an incredible value, at that.
The Buccaneers held an informal interview with 6-foot-5, 235-pound Penn State quarterback Drew Allar at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Allar was projected as a 1st round pick in the 2025 NFL draft but decided to come back for 1 more year of college football — a season in which the Nittany Lions opened as the No. 2 team in the nation but stumbled to a 7-6 finish as head coach James Franklin was fired halfway through the year.
Allar only played in 6 games before he suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Northwestern on October 11. Now, he’s projected as anywhere from a Day 2 pick to a Day 3 pick, which could open him up to being drafted by the Buccaneers in the later rounds.
“Baker (Mayfield) has been one of my favorite quarterbacks, from his time in college and obviously watching his journey in the NFL,” Allar told Pewter Report’s Adam Silvon on Friday. “I actually got to watch Tampa Bay’s offense when I was hurt and that was really cool to see how they use him … the way he leads the team, the way I can see everybody cares about him and wants to go out and play for him isn’t something lost on me. That’s the kind of leader every quarterback wants to be.”
Drew Allar One of College Football’s Elite QBs
Allar started 35 consecutive games for Penn State from 2023 to 2025, including a 29-6 record over his first 2 seasons.
From ESPN: “Nittany Lions coach James Franklin confirmed afterward that Allar will miss the rest of the season. Because he has played more than four games in each of the past four years, Allar has no more eligibility … Allar considered leaving early for the NFL after guiding Penn State to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season, but he came back to compete for a national championship and improve his draft stock.”
In 2024, Allar threw for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns and 8 interceptions to go with 302 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns in 2024 as he led the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff for the first time.
‘Inconsistent’ Play Holding Allar Back Ahead of Draft
When Allar did get hurt, it came after the worst stretch of football of his college career, including becoming the first team since 1978 to lose consecutive games in which they were 20-point favorites.
Those struggles seem to have impacted Allar’s stock more than his injury.
“Allar looks the part with prototypical size and an effortless arm that can make any NFL throw,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “However, inconsistent touch and ball placement are a major hindrance. In big moments and big games, he hasn’t proven he can rise to the occasion or sustain efficiency. The stats looked good in a conservative offense as a sophomore, but his play became more erratic once the playbook was opened up and more responsibility was put on his plate.”