Buffalo Bills: Re-grading each pick from the 2018 NFL Draft
Round 1, Pick 7: Josh Allen
After his retirement, the Buffalo Bills scrambled to find a replacement for the generational talent they had in Jim Kelly. First, it was Todd Collins in 1997, Doug Flutie in 1998, Rob Johnson in 2000, Alex Van Pelt in 2001 and Drew Bledsoe in 2002. The Bills had a change under center what seemed like every season.
This pattern followed itself all the way through the Trent Edwards era, after the ‘Fitzmagic’ era and even after the Tyrod Taylor era. It was time for Buffalo to find some stability at the quarterback position.
The candidates were there for the picking for Buffalo. Mayfield was considered a cocky quarterback who could carry a team, Sam Darnold was considered the most accurate of the bunch, Josh Rosen had character issues and many wondered if he would do what it took to succeed in the NFL. Lamar Jackson was being pressured into making the switch from quarterback to running back and Josh Allen was seen as this work in progress as he had the arm but not the accuracy.
With all of this in mind, Buffalo wasted no time closing in on their guy as they landed a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In a deal that saw the teams swap their first-round picks along with Buffalo sending Tampa two second-round picks, Buffalo rose from 12th to seventh. Once they were on the clock, they jumped at the chance to select their next franchise quarterback, Josh Allen out of Wyoming.
During his time as a Cowboy, the Firebaugh, CA., native surpassed the five-thousand passing yard mark as he threw for 5,066 yards, 44 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 27 games.
When judging the type of quarterback Allen is, all one needs to do is watch the Bills Thanksgiving matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. In the team’s first nationally-televised game in what seems like ages, one snap in particular, told any fan what they needed to know about Allen.
On a fourth-and-one, in a seven-all tie, Allen fumbled the snap, collected the ball and dove over a pile of bodies to get the first and continue Buffalo’s drive.
This kind of play cannot be taught but is instinctual of someone who wants to win, which Buffalo did, defeating “America’s team” 26-15.
Aside from his play on the field, Allen has fit wonderfully into the Buffalo community. Being seen at Sabres games and donating funds towards the nation’s battle against COVID-19. Not only has Allen been tremendous quarterback, but a tremendous person.