Pittsburgh Steelers rookie minicamp began Friday, and the structure of the roster reveals one clear priority for the weekend. Third-round pick Drew Allar is the only quarterback participating, putting him in line for far more reps than most rookie passers typically receive. For a player viewed as one of the organization’s top developmental projects, that workload could make this an especially important first impression.
Will Howard versus Drew Allar is the top roster battle to watch over the next year. One of them will eventually get a chance to start for the Steelers, and it’s not impossible to think that one could emerge as the team’s next long-term starter at quarterback.
The last time Mike McCarthy held a similar competition was all the way back in 2008 between Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm in Green Bay. Flynn was the late-round prospect while Brohm was drafted early in the second round. Flynn won the competition, signaling that draft position means nothing, but it’s important to note that 2008 was a different era in the NFL. Teams were still allowed two-a-day practices during training camp and a whole lot more practice time throughout the season.
The 2011 CBA changed things, and McCarthy acknowledged that when asked about developing two young quarterbacks.
“CBA rules is the only challenge we have,” McCarthy said following the draft.
Is this rookie minicamp a sign of things to come? McCarthy may not have as many practice opportunities to develop quarterbacks as he did earlier in his career, but the Steelers can still structure the offseason in ways that maximize reps for both Allar and Howard.
How they divvy up reps at OTAs with the full team will be much more telling. Aaron Rodgers almost certainly won’t be there even if he signs, but what will the Steelers do with Mason Rudolph? Could the veteran end up a distant third in total reps? If he does, it’s a very clear indication of the Steelers’ intent to develop the two young quarterbacks at all costs.
They are in a race against the clock as they have a little less than a year to decide if one or both are capable of developing into NFL starters. What they decide will dictate how they approach the 2027 NFL Draft, which is expected to be loaded with top quarterback talent.
In that context, giving Drew Allar nearly every rookie minicamp rep is about more than just rookie minicamp weekend. It may be the first visible sign of a broader offseason plan centered on fast-tracking the development of both young quarterbacks before the Steelers are forced to make a franchise-altering decision in 2027.
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