NFL Draft rumors: Josh Allen to be top pick in 2018?

There are already rumors about the 2018 NFL Draft. The juiciest? Josh Allen might be the top quarterback in the class.

How many coaches have had quarterbacks taken in the top five in their careers? Few. How many have had two signal callers selected that high multiple times? Even fewer.

Craig Bohl appears likely to turn that trick in a matter of three years. In 2016, the Philadelphia Eagles selected North Dakota State Carson Wentz. In 2018, look for Josh Allen to come off the board early, possibly the top-overall selection, from Wyoming. This from Sports Illustrated, which had a detailed piece on the youngster.

Allen enrolled at Reedley College, a nearby junior college. He would go to Wyoming when Bohl landed there, playing in two games as a freshman. He would start all the games in 2016.

Other possibilities to be the top quarterback include Josh Rosen of UCLA and Sam Darnold from USC. Rosen is a big, strong-armed thrower who has been the anointed since he enrolled early at UCLA.

Darnold took over the USC job after Max Browne was unable to lead the Trojan offense early in the 2016 season. Darnold certainly looked the part as a big-time quarterback prospect, especially in the Rose Bowl against Penn State. However, Darnold has some mechanical/windup issues that need to be resolved before he can be considered elite.

Next: 2017 NFL Draft instant grades

Allen’s biggest issues will simply be the level of competition. The opponents Wyoming plays in its conference are not up to par with the level of competition of major, Power 5 conference players. However, the NFL will give you a shot, as the Eagles made a major trade up to get Wentz in 2016.

Can Josh Allen be the first quarterback off the board in 2018? Yes. Will he? That’s what we’ll find out as the 2017 season plays out.