2018 NFL Draft: Josh Allen’s character a pre-draft strength

Former Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen is one of the most divisive figures in the 2018 NFL Draft. His character may save him.

One of the most intriguing prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft is Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Josh Allen. Despite coming from a small school and possessing identifiable flaws, Allen has managed to emerge as a projected top-10 draft pick.

While many players are having their character and commitment questioned in the months leading up to the 2018 NFL Draft, Allen is proving to be an anomaly.

Allen turned in a polarizing junior season, throwing for just 1,812 yards while completing 56.3 percent of his passes. He also threw 21 interceptions between his sophomore and junior seasons, which has increased the volume on the concerns about his inconsistency.

Rather than running from the criticism, Allen is addressing it head-on and acknowledging his flaws. Per Jeff Legwold of ESPN:

"“I know I’ve got a lot of flaws as a quarterback.” And when asked earlier this week about his 56.2 career completion percentage in three seasons with the Cowboys, he added: “I’ve been working on that; obviously 56 percent is not anywhere close to where it needs to be. You can go look at the tape … I’ve made a lot of strides from the year before.”"

Allen is also the rare example of a quarterback who’s willing to take on the enviable task of turning the Cleveland Browns around.

The rest of Allen’s game could be dissected, but it’s easy to see why scouts and general managers are intrigued by his character.

Finding a high-level quarterback is a difficult task, but it’s complicated by the inability to find players who are willing to accept they have issues to correct. Allen may not become the player he’s capable of becoming, but he’s a step ahead of the game.

If Allen lands with a coaching staff that’s willing to be patient with his development, his attention to detail and commitment to improvement could pay off.

The fact that Allen seems to be willing to play for any franchise that drafts him—and address the flaws he possesses—increases his chances.

On the field, Allen is a dynamic talent who generates offense with his arm and his legs. With prototypical size at 6’5″ and 233 pounds, Allen can evade the pass rush, fight through contact, work outside the pocket, and make throws over incoming linemen.

Perhaps most importantly, Allen has one of the strongest arms in this draft class—a trait that every NFL team will be intrigued by.

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In an NFL Draft cycle that includes reports of players being unwilling to play for the Cleveland Browns, Josh Allen is a breath of fresh air.