Jets 2026 NFL Draft: Penn State QB Drew Allar Scouting Report

Teams like the New York Jets in the 2026 NFL Draft will be in the market for quarterbacks despite a relatively weak class, which could lead to a late rise among toolsy prospects like Penn State's Drew Allar.

After returning to Penn State amid buzz he could have been a top-50 pick in 2025, Allar saw his stock regress a bit after breaking his ankle midway through the season.

Will the league be interested in a former Nittany Lion with so much raw physical talent, or will all the flaws he showed in his career at Happy Valley be too much for teams to stomach?

Penn State QB Drew Allar 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Notes

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 235
Recruiting: 2022 5-star, No. 32 nationally, No. 4 QB, No. 3 OH

Positives

Cannon for an arm, will immediately be above-average in the NFL. Fires the ball into tight windows while showing more than adequate touch on deep passes that require it.
Anticipation and timing are there, has gotten better at moving defenders with his eyes and throwing to the vacated spot. 2024 tape showcases this better on downfield passes.
Even in the confines of conservative offense, it shows great turnover avoidance. Threw just nine interceptions in 2023 and 2024 regular seasons, five of which came in two games.
Improved at making plays out of structure, looks more comfortable throwing on the move and outside of the pocket than earlier in his career.

In terms of purely throwing the ball from the pocket, a healthy Allar is not that far off from top names like Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson. The arm is ballistic-level, as he can squeeze the ball into tiny windows while also launching it 50 yards downfield with ease. The touch is there as well, which most big-armed quarterbacks don't have.

Allar is not going to be a gunslinger who turns the ball over a ton, which is a plus as far as decision-making goes. Allar will also never be Lamar Jackson as a runner, but he improved at making plays on the move and letting the ball go under pressure.

Negatives

Recovering from a major broken ankle injury that will hang over his stock.
Regressed in 2025, reverting to overly conservative style and not taking full advantage of his arm due to fear of turnovers.
Penn State's offense asked very little of him both pre-snap and post-snap, which may led to a very steep learning curve as he tries to nail the intricacies of an NFL offense.
Mechanics are a mess, both in terms of footwork and his refusal to step into throws. Amplified when he faces pressure, as he is prone to making bad decisions he won't get away with in the NFL.
Not a mobile quarterback by NFL standards, will limit how schemes can best use him.

Allar is as good as anyone in this draft at dropping back and ripping it. The problem comes when he is under duress, as he lacks the escapability to avoid sacks. Allar will need a complete re-work of his mechanics, as his feet are all over the place, especially in late-game pressure situations.

Allar was supposed to take off in the 2025 season, but his play took a step back after some enticing 2024 improvements. With his ankle injury throwing another roadblock in his development, taking an injured, largely immobile quarterback off an iffy year may not be appealing.

Drew Allar NFL Player Comparison: Nick Foles

Foles was able to ride a stronger-than-most arm and enough pre-snap smarts to some legendary heights (albeit with a ceiling) in his NFL journey, and Allar could be in for a similar career if he figures out how to fine-tune his mechanics.

How Drew Allar Fits on the Jets

Allar would be more of a developmental quarterback than someone who could play right away, which may not be ideal for a Jets team that is trying to improve their passing game in the short term. However, if drafting for upside, Allar might be the best player for a team like New York to target.

Provided the Jets can coach up his mechanics in the same way Tanner Engstrand and his Lions staff improved Jared Goff, Allar may see the field sooner rather than later.

Drew Allar NFL Draft Grade: Early 4th Round

Allar has first-round talent, and he may have gone there despite all of his mechanical flaws had it not been for the injury. Some team will take on the chance of refining him into a pro starter, as the arm very clearly warrants some examination at the NFL level.