The Steelers’ selection of Drew Allar in the third round of the NFL Draft was among the most interesting and polarizing of the weekend.

Allar will go down as the most disappointing established quarterback in Penn State history.

He melted in the clutch, evidenced by the brutal interceptions he threw against Notre Dame and Oregon, which ruined the last two seasons and ultimate got James Franklin fired.

Both came on early downs, were horrible decisions and violated fundamental QB play – such as don’t throw across your body, overthrow the sidelines and underthrow the middle. Not vice versa.

While Allar’s arm strength and size are not in question, his footwork, poise and ability to read defenses certainly are.

That said, in a league starved for quarterback play – particularly among backups – it’s easy to understand the Steelers’ decision.

They also had three picks in the third round, making the selection less of a gamble.

Franklin’s track record with drop-back quarterbacks (Allar, Christian Hackenberg) is not nearly as good as it was with more mobile players like Trace McSorley and even Sean Clifford.

Almost certainly, the Steelers’ offensive staff must feel it can do a better job developing Allar.

In fact, PSU associate head coach Terry Smith admitted Monday in an interview with Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 that, “I think unfairly to Drew, our system wasn’t built for him. Some of the decisions were taken out of his control.”

Pittsburgh doesn’t have a long-term answer at the position. If Aaron Rodgers returns – as Mike Tomlin predicted on NBC Sunday night – it only delays the inevitable transition.

Allar could learn from Rodgers – minus the high-maintenance attitude — and won’t be pressured to play much this year while competing with Mason Rudolph and/or Will Howard.

Mike McCarthy has had success managing that model in the past, with Rodgers learning from Brett Favre while the two were in Green Bay.

Time will tell if Allar proves the Steelers right.

It’s at least understandable why the Steelers think he’s worth a shot.

STOCK FELL

Of Penn State’s other draftees, edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton’s fall to the fourth round was surprising.

Sutton was outstanding the last two years, and after dominating against Notre Dame in the 2025 Orange Bowl, he almost certainly would have gone higher had he skipped his senior season.

That is the risk many players take.

Sutton helped hold the Nittany Lions together after their midseason collapse and even played in the Pinstripe Bowl when many others from Penn State and Clemson did not.

He could end up outplaying his draft slot in Green Bay, where former PSU standout Micah Parsons will command attention from opposing offenses.

STORY CONTINUES

Former Saint Francis receiver Elijah Sarratt, who transferred to James Madison and then Indiana, was picked by Baltimore in the fourth round.

Sarratt, who caught 15 touchdowns as a senior, showed there are exceptions to recruiting ratings.

BLUE-WHITE FORMAT

If the future of spring football games is already hanging by a thread, Saturday’s Blue-White Practice didn’t help the cause.

Over the years, there has been no day in which the weather has meant more to the attendance.

Combine the steady, cold rain with Beaver Stadium construction and a format that was a far cry from the old days of evenly balanced teams and spirited play, it’s hard to be optimistic about the Blue-White weekend’s future.

Neil Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.