Cleveland Browns: Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen stands out at the NFL Combine
Simply put, Wyoming’s Josh Allen had an absolutely stellar Scouting Combine performance. With their nearly identical measurables and physical traits, could Allen really become the next Carson Wentz?
Everyone knew that Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen would turn some heads at the NFL Scouting Combine, but was anyone really expecting this? Not only did Allen turn plenty of heads, but he upstaged every other quarterback at the Combine.
Starting at the 40-yard dash, Allen ran incredibly well for his size (officially, 6-foot-4 and seven-eighths, 237 pounds). Allen ran a 4.75 40-yard dash, behind only Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett and USF’s Quinton Flowers.
However, Allen’s excellent Combine did not stop there. His vertical jump, at 33.5″, was the best among the top four quarterbacks in this draft. At nearly 10 feet, Allen’s broad jump also opened some eyes to his athletic ability, especially for the quarterback position.
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When comparing against Carson Wentz, who many have likened Allen to, every single measurable is nearly identical. Wentz ran a 4.77, Allen ran a 4.75. Wentz had a 9-foot-10 broad jump, Allen had a 9-foot-11 broad jump. They are also just about the same size.
Needless to say, the “small school, big arm, no national stage” comparisons between Allen and Wentz speak for themselves. Outside of those comparisons though, Allen’s best Combine performance came on the field during throwing drills.
Throwing 60 and 70-yard bombs with ease, Allen showed just how big his “exceptionally big” arm really is. Allen answered for some of the accuracy issues that plagued him during the season, and the short to medium-range concerns that scouts were worried about.
According to a story from Bleacher Report, quarterback coach Ryan Flaherty claims that Allen wasn’t even showcasing his full strength at the Combine on Saturday:
"“I think he’ll go 69, 70 miles an hour. And just wait until his Pro Day. He’ll throw the ball 89 or 90 yards.” —Flaherty, via Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report"
It is clear now that Allen really does have the strongest arm at the Combine, as he may top 70 miles per hour on some of his throws. Needless to say, Allen has all the physical tools, and really just needs to improve his mental game and decision-making.
So, should the Browns be looking into Allen more? Could we see the Wyoming Cowboys quarterback in orange and brown next season? Well, maybe.
John Dorsey seems to love the rocket arm, as evident with last year’s selection of Patrick Mahomes II. So, it’s entirely possible that he could take Allen with one of those top four picks.
If the Browns can sign a veteran quarterback, this could become even more likely. With A.J. McCarron or any veteran for that matter, Allen wouldn’t have to start right away, and would have time to learn and let the game come to him.
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Being able to sit for a while and learn the NFL game is imperative for Allen, and any veteran would give him that opportunity. If the Browns (somehow) fail to sign a veteran, expect them to likely stray away from Allen, and choose a more “prototypical” quarterback prospect.