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2018 NFL Draft: Should the New York Jets select Josh Allen?

By Stephen Smith

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 21: Josh Allen #17 of the Wyoming Cowboys passes the ball during the first half of the Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 21: Josh Allen #17 of the Wyoming Cowboys passes the ball during the first half of the Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The New York Jets are in need of a franchise quarterback. Should they draft Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft?

The 2017 NFL regular season is quickly winding down. The New York Jets play their finale against the New England Patriots this Sunday in Foxboro. With a 5-10 ledger, Gang Green will currently draft eighth in the 2018 NFL Draft heading into Week 17 competition.

New York is in dire need of a franchise quarterback. Everyone knows it. If available, should the Jets select quarterback Josh Allen of Wyoming with their first round pick? Highly-touted prospects Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen will almost certainly be off the board before New York is on the clock. Allen is considered to be somewhat raw but a premier pro prospect though. He declared for the draft last week and will forego his senior campaign in Laramie.

Let’s take a look at some of his highlights, via YouTube:

The 6-5, 230-pound signal-caller threw for 154 yards and three touchdowns in Wyoming’s 37-14 triumph over Central Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22. That gave Allen 16 touchdown passes this season along with 1,812 yards through the air. Those numbers may seem a little low but the Firebaugh, CA native missed two contests this year with a shoulder injury. In his two seasons as a starter for the Cowboys, Allen fired 44 touchdown passes with 21 interceptions.

As you can see via his video highlights, the lanky quarterback has a cannon for an arm and excellent mobility. He possess quick feet and is able to escape trouble when the pocket collapses. Allen can fit the football into tight spaces, something he will have to do if he is going to succeed on the NFL level. He has a fine touch on the ball and is rather effective throwing the ball on the run. Allen is a tough, hard-nosed runner who can make something out of nothing when a play has broken down.

There are areas in Allen’s game that need improvement though. While playing at Wyoming he took the majority of his snaps in shotgun formation. He is going to need time to get used to taking the snap under center in a pro-set formation. Allen’s arm is actually too strong on occasion. He’ll overthrow his receivers at times and he connected on just 56.3 percent of his pass attempts in 2017. The raw talent is definitely there though. It just needs to be nurtured.

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If the Jets do grab Allen in the initial round, he is most likely not going to be New York’s starting quarterback in the 2018 season opener. Oh no. He is going to take some time to develop.

General manager Mike Maccagnan has a very important decision to make. It’s a decision that can shape the path of the franchise for years to come. With Rosen and Darnold off the board, it would be a smart move for the Jets to draft Allen as their quarterback of the future if he is still available. His ceiling is that high. His future looks that bright.

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