NFL Draft Profile: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Drew Allar enters the 2025 college football season as one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the country. At 6’5”, 240 pounds, the former five-star recruit from Medina, Ohio, boasts a prototypical NFL frame and arm strength that has long intrigued scouts. After a mixed 2023 campaign, Allar took a notable step forward in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, showing growth in both production and processing.

Despite his physical traits and strong statistical jump, Allar remains an incomplete evaluation. While he possesses the ceiling to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, his inconsistent decision-making and poise under pressure remain concerns entering what could be his final collegiate season.

Drew Allar Measurables

Height: 6’5” | Weight: 240 lbsClass: Senior | Hometown: Medina, OH

Strengths

• Elite Frame & Arm Talent – Allar fits the mold of a classic pocket passer. He generates velocity with ease and drives the ball to all levels of the field. His over-the-top release produces tight spirals and consistent zip, especially on intermediate throws.

• Vertical Passing Upside – With Kotelnicki's scheme emphasizing play-action and shot plays, Allar showed improved comfort attacking downfield. He averaged 8.4 yards per attempt in 2024 (up from 6.8 in 2023), illustrating improved aggressiveness and timing.

• Mechanics & Accuracy When Clean – From a clean pocket, Allar’s footwork and ball placement are noticeably better than a year ago. His 67% completion rate in 2024 reflected more consistent throwing mechanics, particularly on intermediate and timing routes.

• Flashes of Anticipatory Throws – In structure, Allar has displayed moments of high-level anticipation, particularly when working play-action and layered throws over the middle.

  
  

Areas for Improvement

• Decision-Making Under Pressure – Allar’s inconsistencies magnify in high-leverage moments. His time to throw increased from 3.1 seconds in 2023 to 3.3 seconds in 2024, and his efficiency dipped sharply when forced off his spot. He must process quicker against simulated pressures and exotic coverage rotations.

• Pocket Poise & Mobility – Despite scrambling more in 2024 (43 scrambles vs. 24 in 2023), Allar often vacates clean pockets unnecessarily. His pocket movement is mechanical, and he lacks natural feel when climbing or sidestepping pressure.

• Accuracy in Tight Windows – Allar’s ball placement can waver, particularly against tight man coverage. Too many throws are off-frame or late, reducing YAC opportunities and increasing risk.

Ideal NFL Scheme Fit

Allar projects best in a vertically inclined offense that uses play-action and defined reads to create spacing—similar to schemes run by the Rams, Vikings, or Browns. He is most effective when he can throw on rhythm from a clean base with intermediate-deep route layering.

NFL Comparison

• Ceiling: Justin Herbert – Prototype size and arm talent with vertical instincts, but dependent on continued refinement in pressure situations.

• Floor: Davis Mills – Tools and frame check out, but inconsistent poise and situational performance limit his starting ceiling.

• Stylistic Comp: Joe Flacco – Similar physical tools and play-action reliance, with comparable traits in pocket-based systems.

2026 NFL Draft Outlook

Drew Allar currently grades as a Mid-Level Starter Potential on the Football Scout 365 scale. He enters the 2025 season as one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects in the class due to his frame, arm, and developmental trajectory under Kotelnicki. If he can continue sharpening his processing, maintain consistency against pressure, and deliver in big-game situations, Allar has the ceiling of a top-five NFL Draft pick. Until then, he remains a high-variance projection whose final evaluation will hinge on continued growth in 2025.