Josh Allen has been the most successful of the quarterbacks taken within the top 10 picks of the 2018 NFL Draft for certain if you're counting team wins as a quarterback-driven stat. Allen led the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs in just his second season as the franchise quarterback. As the 21st century has shown, that task isn't an easy one -- considering the Bills have only made the playoffs twice since the turn of the millennium. He also led the NFL with four fourth-quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives, all at just the age of 23.
Heading into his third season, the Bills' time to win the AFC East is upon them, but that hinges on Allen improving as a passer. He's taking the tips necessary to improve, including from a former NFL quarterback who elevated his game at the NFL. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has offered up advice for Allen to help him improve specific aspects of his play.
"I talked to Tony Romo for a couple hours at the Super Bowl," Allen said, via Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "And I got to talking with him about mechanics and keeping your head on the same plane, same axis, and kind of rotating around it, keeping your left arm super tight, and finding a way to throw the same exact way out of any position, whether your feet are set or not. That's really been paying off. It's been a good thing for me, and it's gonna continue to be something I'll work on."
Allen spent time in quarantine with his quarterbacks coach, Jordan Palmer, New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (also taken in the top 10 of the 2018 NFL draft), and Washington Redskins quarterback Kyle Allen in Orange County, California. Allen also had two separate "camps" with Bills players, one for the rookies and one for the veterans with the absence of offseason workouts due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Allen completed 58.8% of his passes for 3,089 yards while throwing 20 touchdowns to just nine interceptions (85.3 rating) while starting all 16 games. 73.2% of Allen's passes were on target, ranking 21st in the NFL. 20.3% of his throws were considered "poor," ranking fifth in the league.
While Allen does need to improve on his passing, he does have 17 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons -- or as many as Saquon Barkley. If Allen can become an efficient passer to counter his running ability, the Bills may just dethrone the Patriots in the division.
