No. 3: Winning at the Highest Level

Remember, I was a big fan of Josh Allen heading into 2017 — a time when he was already being tabbed as a top-10 pick in the following year’s NFL Draft.

Then I watched his efforts against Oregon on Sept. 16, where he went 9-of-24 for just 64 yards and an interception in Wyoming’s 49-13 beatdown. It wasn’t pretty.

That fueled a worrisome trend Allen had heading towards draft season. His inability to perform well against top-level competition was more than a bit problematic over his collegiate career, as the Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling explained:

In four career games against Power 5 opponents, Allen has thrown just three touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.

There’s no doubt Allen has the physical tools to be a successful passer at the next level, but his inability to step up against top competition will be a huge question mark heading into the predraft process.

Allen tossed two interceptions and zero touchdowns at Iowa to open up 2017. At Boise state, he completed just 44.4 percent of his passes and had just one touchdown against two picks. A year earlier against Nebraska, Allen had just one touchdown against five interceptions.

Granted, Allen’s supporting cast at Wyoming was less than ideal. But that paints a picture of what he might experience early on at the NFL level too. The Bills offensive line is a problem, putting things lightly. And while Buffalo’s receiving corps looks slightly more upgraded, namely with wideouts Corey Coleman and Kelvin Benjamin in the fray, Allen will need to show he’s developed a rapport with each target.

That won’t be easy to do with a suspect O-line and an aging 30-year-old running back, LeSean McCoy, tasked with keeping the Bills ground game effective.

Buffalo’s context surrounding Allen doesn’t put the rookie into a position to succeed right away, which could forever damage his long-term growth. It wouldn’t be the worst of options for Sean McDermott and Co. to consider sitting Allen his first year at the pro level, thereby solving some of the other positional shortcomings between now and the start of 2019.

If they do elect to start Allen this season, however, one should expect a lot of growing pains in 2018.