New York Jets: Avoid taking Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL Draft

The New York Jets would be making a huge mistake that would set the organization back by drafting Josh Allen in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The New York Jets are about to set their future, and it will be determined how they attack the draft and free agency in 2018. If they do it right, they will be perennial playoff contenders. If not, they will be looking for another quarterback in two or three years. The 2018 NFL Draft would be a huge stepping stone for this organization, and it shouldn’t involve in any way the selection of Josh Allen.

It’s true. Allen has the look and some good qualities, but the bad qualities outweigh the good. Let’s take a look at the great arm everyone is raving about.

His passer rating on throws 20+ yards downfield is lower than many others who are potential draftees. At 84.6 (per Pro Football Focus Elite), it was lower than Baker Mayfield, Mason Rudolph, Brett Rypien, Ryan Finley, Riley Ferguson, Lamar Jackson, Luke Falk, Chase Litton, Clayton Thorson, Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold. You may be asking who some of those guys are, and that’s the point. He has an amazing arm, but he’s not accurate enough.

Oh, and speaking of accuracy, he had a completion rate of 56.3 percent in 2017, which ranked him 82nd in the country. That’s behind the likes of McKenzie Milton, Nic Shimonek and Khalil Tate.

He’s got a strong arm. He also is tall and mobile (for his size). The problem is that fans have forgotten that just 20 years ago we were enamored by a tall and somewhat mobile quarterback with a cannon for an arm, and he was an inaccurate college passer as well.

Said player finished his college career completing 53.8 percent of his passes at Washington State, and many people looked passed his inaccuracy problem and were blinded by everything else. That quarterback is none other than Ryan Leaf.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Divisional Round edition

So, be careful what you wish for. You might get that attitude, but you will likely get similar production. The Jets must not take the lesson from history for granted and stay away from Josh Allen.