Why Josh Allen is already an elite NFL Quarterback
Why Allen will also be a top 3 QB in the NFL next season
If you didn’t know Josh Allen last year, you probably know him by now as he is a big factor in why the Buffalo Bills are 10-3 and poised to make a deep playoff run. Let me give you some background on Allen before I get into his superstardom rise. Allen, a quarterback out of the University of Wyoming, was picked with the #7 overall pick by the Bills in the 2018 NFL draft. Many questioned the Bills decision to take him as many scouts believed Josh Rosen was a better selection with the 7th overall pick. Lamar Jackson was in this draft and available, but no one expected Jackson to be taken in the top 15 picks of the draft. Jackson’s rise to superstardom is another story that will be discussed later, but since Rosen has only played in less than 12 games in his career so far and has been a backup after failing to live up to expectations, it is safe to say that the Bills made the right decision in taking Allen.
Before Allen was a first-round pick and coveted NFL prospect, he was a standout baseball and football star at Firebaugh High School in Central California. He grew up a Fresno State fan and tried to draw interest from the program to no avail. Fresno State thought Allen wasn’t talented enough to play at their school, as did all other Division 1 programs at the time. Allen chose to attend Reedley College in Fresno California where he starred but still didn’t get much exposure as scouts were virtually non-existent at the games. After his Freshman season, Allen sent out an email of his mixtape, statistics, resume, and college transcripts to every head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach in the FBS. Eastern Michigan and Wyoming were the only schools that were interested in Allen, both offering him a scholarship to play at their program the following year. Eastern Michigan then rescinded Allen’s scholarship offer leaving Allen with only one Division 1 scholarship in Wyoming, where he of course chose to attend. The rest is history as Allen worked his way up the depth chart to the starter and had two great seasons at the school. Scouts were amazed by Allen’s arm strength, speed, and pocket awareness, but questioned his accuracy and decision making, leading him to slip to 7th overall to the Bills.
In 2018 the Buffalo Bills finished with a 9-7 record with Josh Allen being a rookie. Allen finished his rookie year with a subpar stat line of 2,074 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. However, Allen showed off his speed and run game finishing that season with 631 rushing yards in 89 attempts. The following year Josh Allen put up better statistics, finishing with 3,089 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and rushed for 510 yards. The Bills finally made the playoffs in this 2019 season but were eliminated in the wild card round by the Texans. Many question-marks still surrounded the team and Allen considering the Bills have yet to win a playoff game since 1995. Even as this still stands, the 2020 season has been nothing less than dominant for the Bills, who are hellbent on winning at least one playoff game this season, if not the Super Bowl. They are 10-3, going to win their first AFC East title since 1995, and many consider them to be the strongest contender to beat the Kansas City Cheifs this postseason. Allen has taken the superstar leap this season as his stat line in 13 games is 3,641 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and 350 rushing yards. The rushing yards are of course down due to Allen’s rapid rise in passing yards. A lot of Allen’s rise to superstardom this soon is attributed to the offseason acquisition of #1 receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs has opened up many routes for other receivers too, which only further allows Allen to show off his extraordinary arm.
Josh Allen is now elite. He is 24 years old and will only continue to get better. This 2020 NFL season has destroyed all question-marks regarding Allen’s game, as he is now an elite game manager as well as a passer. He can dictate the pace of the game. Look for the Bills to surge in the playoffs and make a deep run this season. They could even make a Super Bowl appearance if they get past the Kansas City Cheifs. Everyone knew before this season that Allen was a young star with one of the best arms the game has ever seen. However, many have questioned and still question Allen’s production as he is backed by a fantastic defense that continues to improve. However, this defense hasn’t had the dominant year many were expecting and many games have come down to the wire with Allen as the man putting the team on his back and pulling out some W’s. Allen is bound to have a couple more clutch drives at least this season, and he will not disappoint. As I said earlier in the paragraph, Allen has stepped up as an elite game manager, team captain, and someone the whole team can rely on. Other examples of this would be Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Deshaun Watson. However, at least four of those six quarterbacks do not have as good of an arm as Allen, which means Allen should surpass them with production as his game managing skills improve even more. That is why I am here to tell you that Allen will be a top 3 QB in the NFL as early as next season. Allen has a better arm than Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Tom Brady, and Lamar Jackson, and he can run better than all of them minus Jackson. The only quarterbacks I see having as good or better of an arm and still having as good or better production than Allen next season are Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. I know it sounds crazy, but the smart money would be to bet on Allen to win the NFL MVP next season as he will almost certainly take an even bigger leap and throw for 40 touchdowns and 4,300 passing yards.
Four months ago I was telling my fantasy football friends that Allen is going to have a better career than Lamar Jackson. They all laughed at me and said I was crazy. Although Jackson is fantastic and will surely be a Hall of Famer when it’s all said in done, so will Josh Allen. Jackson’s reliance on the run game may also get him injured in the near future. Jackson has nowhere near the arm or the in-game readabilities that Allen has, not to mention Allen is the second or third best running quarterback in the league behind Jackson and maybe Kyler Murray. Yes, Wilson is also faster than Allen but he doesn’t run as much as he used to and is not as efficient of a runner anymore either. I stand by my earlier prediction. Josh Allen will have a better career than Lamar Jackson. I also want to make another prediction. Josh Allen will also finish with a Super Bowl win and multiple NFL MVP’s by the time its all said in done. I love both Jackson and Allen because of their persistence to succeed even when many have doubted them as NFL players in the past and the present. They should both be examples of even if you are not a five-star recruit or highly coveted prospect, you can still grind and grind and grind and never give up as the hard work will pay off and you will become the player that you have always wanted to become. Furthermore, I am excited for Josh Allens continued success and journey as should everyone else as he is going to have a very special career and we are lucky to be witnessing it.