Bills look like they’re going to rush Josh Allen’s development
The Bills drafted Josh Allen with the intention of letting him learn for a season. Now it seems the team is determined to rush him into action.
When the Buffalo Bills selected Josh Allen in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, coach Sean McDermott was adamant he was a pick for the future. Now the Bills coaching staff is starting to change their tune dramatically. It now appears Allen has a legitimate chance to become the team’s starting quarterback early this season.
The former Wyoming signal caller began the year as the team’s third-string quarterback, but recent reports allege he’ll take snaps with the first team at this week’s minicamp. That news should set off serious warning bells in the mind of projected starter A.J. McCarron.
Most people believed that McCarron would at least get the majority of the season to prove is capable of being an NFL starting quarterback. The selection of Allen always meant it was unlikely that would happen for him in Buffalo on a long-term basis, but the hope was he’d showcase enough to become attractive for another team.
Throwing Allen into first-team reps at minicamp is a clear indication that isn’t necessarily the coaching staff’s plan any longer. Predictably, McDermott and company are feeling a lot of pressure to see what Allen can do. First round quarterbacks don’t often spend much time on the bench.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t the right plan for Allen though. He comes into the league with a lot of work to do. Not only does he need to adjust to the increased level of competition from Wyoming to the NFL, he also needs a ton of work on his fundamentals. Many scouts still have serious concerns about his ability to become an accurate passer. There’s no question he has a big arm, but there are questions about whether or not he can fit it into tight NFL windows.
The best thing for Allen would be to spend a lot of time on the bench in 2018. The Bills got a lot of plaudits for stating that as their original plan. Unfortunately, recent events make it seem that he’ll be rushed onto the field. That could have disastrous effects for Allen’s career and the Bills’ season.