A detailed comparison of Will Howard and Drew Allar weighs size, college production, awards, injuries, top-opponent results, draft position, and attitude. The case for Howard leans on winning and consistency; the case for Allar leans on physical upside and arm talent.
nfl draftcollege footballSteelersWill HowardDrew Allarquarterback battlePenn StateOhio State
The Steelers may be headed toward a quarterback competition that says as much about team direction as it does about either player. If Aaron Rodgers does not return, Will Howard and Drew Allar could both get a real chance to prove they belong, and the contrast between them is sharper in style than it is in raw size or measurables.
Physically, the two quarterbacks are close enough that the difference is easy to overstate. Howard checked in at 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds with a 4.85 40, while Allar measured 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds with a 4.9 40. Their hand size and arm length are nearly identical, and both have the kind of frame NFL teams can work with. That is why the argument is not really about whether one is a big quarterback and the other is not. It is about what each player has done with those tools.
Howard's college resume is the stronger one on paper. In 2024 at Ohio State, he threw for 4,010 yards, completed 75 percent of his passes, and set a school record in completion percentage while throwing 35 touchdowns against 10 interceptions and adding seven rushing scores. He also helped lead Ohio State to a national championship and won the playoff MVP award, along with the Cotton Bowl MVP. His overall trophy case includes Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, a Big 12 title, and high school player of the year honors.
Allar's 2024 season at Penn State was solid, but not on the same level. He passed for 3,326 yards, completed 64.8 percent of his throws, and finished with 24 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions, and six rushing touchdowns. His supporters point to his arm talent, cleaner throwing motion, and physical upside. His critics point to the fact that he did not turn those traits into the kind of production expected from a top program quarterback.
Injury history also tilts toward Howard. He missed the preseason after breaking a small bone in his hand during training camp, but his college career was otherwise clean. Allar, by contrast, suffered a catastrophic ankle break that ended his college career after he was carted off in the fourth quarter against Northwestern. That kind of injury does not define a player forever, but it does matter when projecting how much development time he may need.
Results against top teams are another major divider. Howard went 8-3 against top 10 opponents and earned wins over Oregon, Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee, and others. His one notable regular-season loss to Oregon came with a costly late slide that changed the game. Allar's record against top 10 teams was far less impressive, with repeated losses in the biggest matchups and backbreaking interceptions in high-leverage games. He did beat some quality opponents, but the broader pattern is hard to ignore.
Draft position creates a different kind of tension. Howard went in the sixth round, while Allar was taken in the third. On pure draft capital, Allar has the edge. But the gap between them in pre-draft evaluation was reportedly narrow. Their consensus board grades were close, their prospect grades were close, and both were viewed as average backup types by some outlets. That suggests the difference between them was not nearly as dramatic as the draft rounds alone might imply.
That said, draft round still matters, even if it is not destiny. Higher picks get more chances, but quarterback history is full of exceptions in both directions. Some late picks become stars and some early picks flame out. The round tells you something about consensus, not certainty. It is a useful data point, not a verdict.
The biggest philosophical divide is probably attitude and temperament. Howard is seen as the more straightforward leader, the player who embraces the moment and seems eager to take command. Allar has a prettier motion and, at times, the look of a quarterback with more natural talent, but there are concerns about whether he plays with enough urgency and conviction when the game tightens. Some of that may be coaching, especially given how conservative Penn State's offense often was and how much emphasis was placed on avoiding mistakes. Still, the hesitation showed up enough to become part of the evaluation.
There is also a legitimate argument that Allar was held back by context. Penn State's receiving talent was nowhere near Ohio State's, and Howard was throwing to a much better supporting cast. Allar did not have a single drafted wide receiver in his last two seasons, while Howard benefited from elite talent around him. That matters. A quarterback's environment can inflate or suppress his numbers, and it is fair to wonder what Allar might have looked like with better weapons.
Even so, the concern with Allar is not just about surroundings. It is about whether the processing, decisiveness, and poise needed at the next level are truly there. He can make beautiful throws. He can look the part. But the NFL will ask for more than that. Howard may not have the same natural arm talent, yet he has already shown he can win big games, manage pressure, and produce at a high level in a demanding environment.
The most honest conclusion may be that neither quarterback is a sure thing. That is true of almost every late-round or mid-round quarterback. The Steelers are not choosing between a finished product and a project. They are choosing between a more accomplished, steadier player and a more gifted, less proven one. Howard has the better college resume and the stronger case on production and winning. Allar has the better physical profile and a higher theoretical ceiling if everything clicks.
If the Steelers are looking for the safer bet, Howard has the edge. If they are chasing upside and are willing to live with more uncertainty, Allar has a case. But the idea that the choice is obvious in either direction goes too far. The real answer may not come from college stats, awards, or draft round at all. It may come from who handles the NFL speed, the playbook, and the pressure when the competition actually begins.
