The “Underwear Olympics,” better known as the NFL Scouting Combine, has arrived.
Testing began on Thursday, and the New York Jets have and will continue to meet with a wide range of prospects while monitoring on-field results, including the quarterbacks.
Given the unlikelihood of New York selecting a quarterback with one of their first-round picks in April, unless they are enamored with Alabama’s Ty Simpson, it is expected that they will be in the market for a late-round, developmental option.
One of the more intriguing developmental quarterbacks the Jets could take a flier on is Penn State’s Drew Allar.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Allar is fully healthy after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 7 of the NCAA season and will throw this week in Indianapolis.
After an outstanding 2024 season, Allar was a projected first-round selection.
While leading Penn State to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, Allar ranked seventh among qualified FBS signal-callers (minimum 450 dropbacks) in completion percentage (66.5%) and sixth in yards per attempt (8.4).
However, he decided to stay in Happy Valley for another season, which demolished his draft stock.
After getting off to a rough start, he sustained a season-ending left ankle injury, which caused his stock to plummet, and now it remains where he will fall in the draft.
Currently ranked No. 116 overall on Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, there will be a lot of eyes on him when he takes the field to throw at Lucas Oil Stadium.
A strong showing could push him into consideration for a quarterback-needy team on Day 2 of the draft, while a poor performance could keep him as just a Day 3 option.
Allar also fits the mold of what Jets’ offensive coordinator Frank Reich has historically preferred in his quarterbacks, making his performance in Indy one worth monitoring from New York’s perspective.
