With all the lights shining on him in his senior year, Drew Allar suffered a season-ending ankle injury. As time moved by, he was slowly cast aside as many different prospects shot up the rankings and overtook Allar. All the hype had died down.

With the 2026 NFL Draft slowly approaching, the hype has come back to Happy Valley. An impressive combine showing and impressive stories about his recovery suddenly made the NFL world talk about him again. The special arm talent, mobility, and overall prospect that he is are sure to interest an NFL general manager. We at Onward States have compiled the most reasonable landing spots for the Nittany Lion.

New York Jets – Round 5 Pick 179

The Jets quarterback room has always been inconsistent, with players coming in and out all the time. This offseason, they addressed their short-term quarterback needs by re-signing Geno Smith. On the depth chart, currently behind Smith are Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe, who both have experience in the NFL. From a long-term perspective, it would make sense to begin a new project that could learn under Geno Smith.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Round 6 Pick 216

Allar and the Steelers met during the NFL combine and have continued to express interest in the gunslinger. As the hope of Aaron Rodgers returning slowly keeps dying, all that’s left on the Pittsburgh roster is Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. If it came down to a QB battle between those three, it is certainly possible that Allar could win the starting job.

Miami Dolphins – Round 5 Pick 151

The Dolphins are in a complete rebuild. Moving on from their franchise quarterback, they are taking a gamble by entrusting their future to Malik Willis. With only a small sample size of success, it is possible that the starting role may not be ready for Willis. This is why the backup position could become the most important one of the season. With Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller in the QB room, Allar could give both of them a run for their money.

Los Angeles Rams – Round 6 Pick 207

Matthew Stafford is an elite quarterback with not much time left in the NFL. With a search for a new franchise QB in the near future, the Rams front office would be smart to get ahead of the chaos. Selecting Drew Allar and having him mentor under an NFL legend for a year or two would be a great development period for Allar.

New Orleans Saints – Round 5 Pick 172

The Saints seemed to have found themselves in a situation with Tyler Shough. The Rookie of the Year proved to be an excellent selection on day three of the draft. Repeating the success in the draft last year by selecting Allar is a low risk with a high reward. Tyler Shough will likely be the answer long-term, as he will turn 27 this fall. Allowing Allar to develop for a year or two could be the key to unlocking his potential.

Kansas City Chiefs – Round 6 Pick 210

With Patrick Mahomes being out for multiple months to start the new NFL season, the Chiefs signed Justin Fields this offseason. One of the few consistencies he’s had over his NFL career has unfortunately been injuries. The backup quarterback could play an important role for the Chiefs this season. Drafting Drew Allar to address this issue before it arises would be smart, as he comes with a ton of upside.

Indianapolis Colts – Round 6 Pick 214

A reunion with Tyler Warren. Daniel Jones showed amazing progression in his breakout season with the Colts. However, it is very similar to the contract year he had earlier in his career with the Giants. In case history repeats itself this year or Daniel Jones injuries affect him long-term, having a backup option is necessary. With their intent to move on from Anthony Richardson this offseason, they will be on the search for a backup quarterback.

Arizona Cardinals – Round 5 Pick 143

The Cardinals seem to have found a bridge QB in Jacoby Brissett. Having a young QB behind both him and Gardner Minshew to develop behind the veterans could play a big role later down the road of a rebuild. It will only be a matter of time before we see Drew Allar throwing touchdowns to Marvin Harrison if he finds himself in the desert.