NFL Draft 2018: 5 players that should have returned to school
4. Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
How many times have we heard the narrative about quarterbacks with ridiculous skill-sets in terms of physical tools, but then watched the film and not seen said player look like a viable NFL quarterback? Though it’s early to say anything too definitive, there’s a chance that Josh Allen fits that bill as he enters the 2018 NFL Draft.
Coming out of Wyoming, there are times where Allen displays everything that you want from an NFL quarterback. He has a beautifully big frame that you want under center at the pro level. What’s more, there’s absolutely no one who can question his arm strength. The former Cowboy can flat-out chuck the pigskin down the field with the best of them. Even better, he has solid mobility. He’s not a runner by any means, but he moves well enough to make plays, which was put to the test playing behind a bad offensive line with Wyoming this past season.
Having said that, there are obvious and worrisome flaws when it comes to the quarterback’s game. Allen completed only 56 percent of his passes this past season, which is a worrying trend regarding his accuracy. To put it simply, he’s often inconsistent when it comes to his ball placement. When you’re facing NFL defenses, that can be an extremely bad thing that gets you in a lot of trouble.
With his physical tools, there’s no doubt that Allen could have an NFL future. However, he would’ve been better suited fine-tuning his skills in college for another year before heading to the pro level. Now, he’s a project that will go in the first round, but that will have the “risk” label attached to him still.