In April 2018, in his final mock draft, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock predicted the Bills would trade up into the top 10.
“And with that pick,” Mayock said on television, “the Buffalo Bills take the quarterback with the most upside in this draft, Josh Allen. Dude is 6-5, 237. He’s the same size as Carson Wentz, with bigger arm talent, and he’s a better athlete. Now, he’s not ready to play as early as Carson Wentz, but I’m telling you, out of maybe any player in this draft, his upside might be the highest.”
Today, Mayock is the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders, who will host Allen and the undefeated Bills on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
Now here’s play action,” Mayock said 2½ years ago, evaluating film of Allen at Wyoming. “Watch him climb the pocket, and this is what I’m talking about, ‘arm talent.’ Nobody makes that throw that way in the entire NFL. … This is 40 yards, on the run, to his left, to a tiny window. Are you kidding me?
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Wyoming used him in the run game an awful lot, and he’s a load. This is a real good football player. The issue is he throws late, off his back foot, and the question of anticipation, timing and accuracy is what’s going to take him a little while to get used to.”