Miami quarterback Carson Baker and Penn State quarterback Drew Allar are both in ideal positions that could give them opportunities sooner rather than later.
Some refused to believe Baker would be the third quarterback drafted, but he became the third quarterback drafted Friday night when he was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 1 pick of the third round (No. 65 overall). He’ll enter the Cardinals program with Jacoby Brissett expected to be the bridge starter in 2026, but there will be incentive to take a look at Baker if he gets the starting job. With a projected first-round quarterback in 2027, I think Arizona will try to make Baker the rookie starter at some point if he proves valuable. If only to wonder if the team needs a smooth return in the deeper draft next year. For Baker, that could mean starting with third-overall pick Jeremiyah Love at running back, first-team All-Pro tight end Trey McBride, and Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. at wide receiver.
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Of the first three quarterbacks drafted — including the Las Vegas Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza and the Los Angeles Rams’ Ty Simpson (who finished behind reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford) — you could argue Baker is the winner in terms of the players around him and the potential immediate opportunities. One to watch next season.
As for Alar, my understanding is that his drafting has no impact on the team’s hopes of having Aaron Rodgers back in 2026. Now, I believe Rodgers will be back and new head coach Mike McCarthy will have Alar and Will Howard duke it out with Mason Rudolph to determine who fills out the rungs under Rodgers on the depth chart. Assuming Rodgers returns, the fourth quarterback in the mix will likely end up being cut or traded — and that player will no It’s Aral.
I think the hope is for Rodgers to return in 2026, with Alar finally tapping into his considerable raw talent under McCarthy’s tutelage, with an eye on him taking over for Rodgers at that point. If Rodgers doesn’t return, I think Allar will have a chance to prove whether he’s worthy of joining Rudolph and Howard in the quarterback competition.
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Regardless of how it ultimately pans out, Alar’s focus is that Pittsburgh will have some kind of opportunity. It could be this season, it could be 2027 or beyond. But it’s going to be there in the end, and that’s all you can ask for as a third-round pick.
