Brandon Beane
Josh Allen has consistently stood among the NFL’s premier quarterbacks throughout the past four seasons. With his remarkable rushing abilities and formidable arm strength, he’s cemented his status as one of today’s top QBs. Moreover, he’s been instrumental in guiding the Bills to the NFL playoffs in each of the last five years, securing victories in four of those appearances.
Yet, despite his recent triumphs, Allen encountered significant struggles in his initial two seasons at the helm for the Bills. During this period, he managed just 30 touchdowns and 21 interceptions combined, with a completion rate below 60% in both years. Initially perceived as a potential draft disappointment, Allen staged a remarkable turnaround.
Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane took responsibility for Allen’s early career challenges, admitting fault during an interview on The Athletic NFL Show. “One of the first lessons I learned that I screwed up was… I didn’t have someone here with the right experience, a veteran for Josh to lean on,” Beane confessed. “Early on, Josh was kind of struggling a bit… I got Derek Anderson in here around Week 5 or 6, and I should have had that before.”
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Before the arrival of veteran Derek Anderson, the Bills relied solely on Matt Barkley and Nathan Peterman as backup quarterbacks during Allen’s rookie campaign in 2018. Beane believes this lack of experienced support contributed to Allen’s initial challenges. Regardless, Anderson’s presence proved transformative for Allen, ultimately benefiting the Bills’ 2018 draft pick immensely.
In the 2018 NFL Draft, Allen was among four quarterbacks reportedly under consideration for the top overall selection. However, the Cleveland Browns opted for Baker Mayfield as the first pick. Subsequently, the New York Jets chose Sam Darnold at third overall. The Buffalo Bills then selected Josh Allen as the third quarterback in the draft, securing him with the seventh pick. Allen’s career trajectory has since outshone his fellow quarterbacks selected in the top 10, establishing him as a standout success for the Bills.
