Steelers' Kaden Wetjen Gives Extremely Encouraging Update On Fellow Rookie Drew Allar

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not expecting Drew Allar to become an instant answer, but one of his rookie teammates already seems encouraged by the way the young quarterback is adjusting. That matters because Allar’s first NFL season is not really about winning a job right away. It is about proving the early foundation is starting to settle.

Allar entered Pittsburgh as one of the more interesting developmental pieces in the Steelers’ 2026 draft class. He has the size, arm strength, and physical profile teams love to bet on, but he also came with the kind of mechanical questions that usually require time. The Steelers knew that when they drafted him. They were not taking a polished quarterback who was ready to challenge Aaron Rodgers immediately. They were taking a talented passer who needed coaching, structure, and patience.

That is why the early feedback from Kaden Wetjen is worth noting. Wetjen is going through his own transition as a rookie wide receiver and return specialist, but he has already been around Allar enough to notice progress. During a Steel City Insider interview with 247Sports, Wetjen was asked what he could say about working with Allar. His answer was simple, but it gave a positive glimpse into how the rookie quarterback is handling the early stages of the offense.

"He’s just shown great improvement," Wetjen said. "It’s similar with everybody else. The whole offense getting thrown at you right away, obviously you struggle, but then once you get it down, then you can focus more on the game instead of what you’re running. So once he got that down and got all the fundamentals, obviously some stuff’s different here than where he was from, so it just took him a week or two to get over that and kind of get implemented into this system. He’s making great strides."

That is probably the best way to frame Allar’s situation right now. The Steelers are not looking for him to be perfect in June. They are looking for signs that he is absorbing the offense, adjusting to the details, and cleaning up the areas that need work. Wetjen’s comments suggest Allar is at least starting to move in the right direction.

The important part of Wetjen’s quote is the idea that Allar needed time to stop thinking so much. That is normal for any rookie quarterback, especially one entering a system built around timing, footwork, and rhythm. Under Mike McCarthy, the quarterback has to understand how the drop connects with the route concept. The footwork is not just cosmetic. It is tied directly to when the ball is supposed to come out and where the quarterback’s eyes should be.

That is a major adjustment for Allar. He has already been viewed as a player with big-time tools, but also one who needs to sharpen the routine parts of quarterback play. If the Steelers can get him more comfortable with the timing of the offense, the physical talent has a much better chance to show up. That is where the development process becomes more important than any single practice throw.

Pittsburgh has already seen Allar lean into the chance to learn from Rodgers, and that may be one of the biggest benefits of his rookie year. Rodgers gives him a veteran example inside the same quarterback room. McCarthy gives him a system built around structure and detail. For a player who needs refinement, that is the right kind of environment.

Wetjen’s perspective also matters because he is learning the offense at the same time. He understands how much is being thrown at the rookies early. When a young receiver says a young quarterback is starting to get the fundamentals down and make strides, that carries some value. He is not giving a scouting report from a distance. He is seeing the process up close.

That does not mean Allar is suddenly ahead of schedule in a dramatic way. He still has a long road ahead. The Steelers have Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, and Will Howard in the quarterback room, so Allar is not being rushed into a major role. That is probably the best thing for him. His rookie season can be about development instead of pressure.

Steelers Need Allar’s Progress To Keep Building

The Steelers have been searching for long-term quarterback clarity since Ben Roethlisberger retired, and Allar is now part of that bigger conversation. He does not have to solve it immediately, but he does have to show enough growth to make Pittsburgh believe the investment was worth it. Wetjen’s comments are not a final answer, but they are a positive early sign.

The next step will come in training camp and the preseason. That is where Allar’s progress will become easier to judge. Practicing in shorts is one thing. Handling pressure, faster windows, and live situations is another. If he can keep stacking better days, the Steelers will have a much clearer picture of how realistic his development path might be.

For now, the biggest takeaway is simple. Allar is not standing still. Wetjen has already seen improvement, and that is exactly what Pittsburgh needs from him at this stage. The rookie quarterback does not need to be ready today.

He just needs to keep making strides.