Senior Bowl spotlight: Why Josh Allen may (may not) be on Broncos radar

The Denver Broncos will coach the North team at the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, this week, with coaches working out some of the best seniors in college football during practices. This really gives the Broncos a leg up on the competition in the NFL Draft, as they’ll be working through practices and drills with these top prospects.

One of those prospects is Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen.

Allen is seen as a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, and there is some speculation about him being the No. 1-overall pick.

The Broncos have the No. 5-overall pick and are definitely in the market for an upgrade at the quarterback position.

Here is a look at Allen: the good, the bad, and why he could be on the team’s radar.

The good

Allen has a rocket arm and an effortless throwing motion. He can make tight-window throws because of his arm strength and has no problem attacking a defense vertically.

He’s an athletic quarterback who can keep plays alive with his feet. Allen has the speed to gain yards with his legs when the play breaks down, and he can threaten a defense as a runner.

Unlike most college quarterbacks, Allen has plenty of experience working from under center. During the past two years, Allen has 176 passing attempts from under center. Compare that to the three passing attempts Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield has during that same time.

There’s no such thing as “pro-ready,” in my opinion, but Allen’s work in a pro-style offense means he won’t have to make an awkward transition to working from under center like most in his class will have to do.

Allen is known as a leader with plenty of confidence. He comes from a small town in California and was overlooked in the recruiting process. He’s no stranger to proving doubters wrong and supporters right.

The bad

During his three years at Wyoming, Allen lacked the desired accuracy at the college level. In 2017, Allen struggled to find his targets consistently. He finished with a 56.3 completion percentage this season, just barely above the 56.0 percent he had in his first full season as a starter in 2016.

It is worth noting that Allen and the Cowboys lost four offensive players to the NFL last year (wide receiver Tanner Gentry, tight end Jacob Hollister, running back Brian Hill and center Chase Roullier), and that type of talent is difficult to replace at Wyoming.

In addition to accuracy issues, Allen compounds his problems when under pressure. Allen will sense the slightest bit of pressure and take off to run. Sometimes that run extends the play as he looks for a pass, but there are moments he will not see wide open receivers as his mind is already made up to run with the ball.

He’ll also have to pass medical exams at the NFL Scouting Combine later this year. Allen missed two games with the Cowboys in 2017 with an injured throwing shoulder.

Radar watch

Allen is a possible selection for the Broncos in the first round. Elway personally scouted Allen in December at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, and the Cowboys gunslinger seems like the type of quarterback the Denver GM would covet.

If the Broncos don’t solve their quarterback problem in free agency, then Allen becomes a real possibility with their first pick in the draft.

Allen is far from a perfect prospect, but the tools are there for him to be a quality starter if given time to properly develop.

 

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