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Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass during Minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on June 11, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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By Anne EricksonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Aaron Rodgers led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a respectable 10-7 record during the 2025-26 NFL season, but he's obviously nearing the end of his career. So, who will take over when Rodgers finally retires?

While the Steelers aren't going to draft a top-named quarterback in the 2026 NFL draft like Fernando Mendoza or Carson Beck, they could draft a budding signal-caller.

In a Saturday, February 28, feature for USA Today, Jacob Camenker gives his 2026 NFL draft picks. Regarding the Steelers, he sees them going with a rising quarterback out of Penn State in Drew Allar as the No. 121 overall, fourth round pick.

"It's sounding more and more like Aaron Rodgers will return to the Steelers for an additional season. That still shouldn't stop Pittsburgh from using one of its league-high 12 draft picks on a potential successor with upside," Camenker states in the piece.

"Allar would qualify, as the 21-year-old was a touted recruit who earned first-round buzz at times while at Penn State. The 6-5, 235-pound quarterback has prototypical size and excellent arm talent but was having an up-and-down senior campaign before suffering a season-ending ankle injury after six games."

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Allar closed out his season with Penn State completing 64.8% of his passes for 1,110 yards, eight touchdowns and having three interceptions, according to ESPN research.

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"He would represent an intriguing dart throw for Pittsburgh and would battle 2024 sixth-round pick Will Howard for the right to be the team's quarterback of the future," Camenker states.

In the NFL's profile of Allar, they note that he "looks the part with prototypical size and an effortless arm that can make any NFL throw. However, inconsistent touch and ball placement are a major hindrance."

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They add, "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."

However, his profile warns that, "He can be slow to process and get to his best option. He also struggles to adjust his pre-snap plan to fit the coverage."

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