Arizona Cardinals Draft Prospect: Wyoming QB Josh Allen
With many questions surrounding the team, could QB draft prospect Josh Allen be one of the answers?
Quarterback has been a recurring topic trending around the Arizona Cardinals since the end of the 2017 season. General Manager, Steve Keim, is on the hunt for a new franchise quarterback that will help the Cardinals evolve into the tier of elite football teams.
Without a head coach, it’s a guessing game as to who the Cardinals are targeting at the quarterback position. It’s a clean slate considering Drew Stanton, Blaine Gabbert and Matt Barkley are all prospective free agents in 2018.
There are a handful of names floating around in free agency. Washington Redskins’ Kirk Cousins leads the pack as the top quarterback to land during the offseason. However, Arizona will have to pay Cousins a fortune if they desire to have him under center.
Another option could be a trade for Kansas City Chiefs’ Alex Smith. The 12-year veteran makes a nice fit, but the Cardinals would more than likely only have him for a few years.
The other avenue to secure a quarterback is through the draft. The last time the Cardinals drafted a quarterback in the first round was in 2006 when the team took Matt Leinart 10th overall. This year Arizona has the 15th pick.
Wyoming’s Josh Allen is one of the more prominent figures in the draft this year. Allen, who threw for over 5,000 yards and was responsible for 44 touchdowns during his collegiate career, could be a possible selection for the Cardinals’ vacant spot.
Arizona might have to trade up in the draft to get Allen. It would be a much cheaper option than signing a veteran quarterback like Cousins.
This would allow the Cardinals more spending money to bring in a few pieces that they need on the offensive side of the ball to support Allen in his new role.
Allen’s big arm is a plus and his mobility is an added bonus. His Ben Roethlisberger-like size at 6′ 5″ 234 lbs also catches the eye of NFL GM’s and scouts.
Allen’s cons are fixable in the NFL. He tends to hold onto the ball too long and can make some poor decisions throwing the ball which put Wyoming’s defense in tough situations.
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A lot of the offense Allen ran was single reads which can be part of the reason for the bad throws he made. He may struggle trying to read and breakdown NFL defenses, but with time and coaching that can be overcome.
The pros do outweigh the cons. Allen is quite an accurate thrower who can make all of the tough throws. His mobility and size allows for big plays to happen and receivers to get open.
The classic pocket passer is one of Allen’s attributes. He does a fantastic job of climbing the pocket and delivering the ball. If needed, he can make a play with his legs and create opportunities for receivers to get open.
During his time at Wyoming, Allen statistically was significantly better overall when he had the run support up and around 100 yards per game. With David Johnson coming back from his season-ending injury, the chance for a solid running game is there.
The entire NFC West has upgraded to higher competition with mobile, strong arm quarterbacks. The Cardinals would fit right in with Josh Allen at the helm.
Allen appears to be a low risk, high reward type of draft pick. He will need the right fit to succeed in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals could be one of those teams who thrive with Josh Allen.