Josh Allen is still a candidate for the Denver Broncos, like it or not

A good number of Denver Broncos fans have jumped on board the Baker Mayfield train, but Josh Allen can’t be counted out just yet…

Josh Allen may not be the top option in Broncos Country at the moment, but he should still be considered a candidate for the Broncos’ quarterback-of-the-future vacancy.

Allen is among the players on the Broncos’ North roster at the 2018 Senior Bowl, and both John Elway and Vance Joseph have spoken highly of the former Wyoming signal caller.

Allen also came walking through the hotel lobby prior to day three of practices accompanied by Broncos quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan, so clearly, the team has enjoyed the benefits of being able to spend extra time with him.

Despite the fact that Allen is raw in some regards as a prospect, he still checks some of the most important boxes for scouts and executives.

1. Size

Allen is very clearly a quarterback when it comes to his physical makeup. He looks the part at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds. He’s not the lanky, awkward type of player we’ve become accustomed to in Denver. Despite what many (including potentially some in Denver) think, 6-foot-7 quarterbacks have rarely done well in the NFL and aren’t the prototype size.

Allen is exactly as you would draw up a quarterback.

2. Arm Strength

After watching a season’s worth of game tape, I felt like Lamar Jackson might have the strongest arm in the 2018 class. After watching Allen in person, I no longer believe that to be the case.

Allen had a pass at the Senior Bowl clock in at over 66 miles per hour. And that wasn’t even him purposely trying to throw the ball as hard as he possibly can. That was in a live setting.

There’s no denying Allen has a big arm, and he can make throws most QBs in this year’s draft just can’t.

3. Athleticism

Allen is a good athlete. Some of his best plays in Mobile were made on the move. Heck, a lot of the highlight throws he made at Wyoming were on the move, toward the sideline, where he rocketed a ball downfield and fit it into an impossible window.

Allen can run the modern offense RPO (run/pass option) stuff and he can scramble or make plays with his feet in general.

4. Josh Allen is likable

As a player, there are some really frustrating and even maddening aspects to Josh Allen’s game. But listening to him talk, it’s clear to see that this is a likable young man whom coaches will be excited to work with.

He says all the right things. He goes about his craft the right way. He wants to get better. He’s attentive. He understands where he needs to get better, and he also understands where he is strong.

Allen is not a jerk who thinks he’s better than everyone else, and personally seems like a good guy.

5. Huge upside

Of all the quarterbacks in this year’s draft, I would say that two guys have the highest upside based on physical tools alone:

Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

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Of course, Jackson has that insane 4.3 type of speed where Allen does not, but Allen has the edge in terms of the fact that he’s played in a more pro-oriented offense throughout his time in Wyoming (though Jackson ran some modern pro concepts as well).

With Allen’s arm talent, athleticism, and intangibles, I think the sky is the limit if he can continually get better.

For these reasons (and probably more, honestly), I don’t think there’s any way we can count Allen out as a possibility for the Broncos with the fifth overall pick.

This doesn’t mean his propensity for over-throwing the ball is going unnoticed. It also doesn’t mean that his inaccuracy in general is getting forgotten just to fit the most optimistic narrative if he does become a Bronco.

All I’m saying is this: I’m just saying.

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