Today, we take a look at a prospect who, despite garnering top-five overall hype, could conceivably fall to Detroit at No. 8.
Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
Height: 6041
Weight: 258
2018 games watched: vs. South Carolina, at Texas A&M, at Missouri, vs. Georgia, at Louisville
Overview
Allen was arguably college’s most improved player in 2018, as he returned for a senior season that saw him significantly elevate his draft stock en route to logging 17 sacks.
Pros
- Keys the ball well and demonstrates very good burst off the line, especially out of a 2-point
- Packs a strong punch in his hands and does a very good job of timing and landing his initial strikes as a pass rusher
- Maintains good pad level throughout his rush
- Effectively bends the corner
- Possesses the requisite strength to win via the bull rush
- Strong finisher who attacks the ball and creates strip sack opportunities
- Smooth, flexible athlete who looks natural in his drops and was effective in zone coverage
- Has the physical traits to play man against tight ends
- Anchors well at the POA and consistently sets the edge
- Demonstrates very good hand usage against the run; punches with quickness and power to stack and shed
- Has very good range to affect plays as a backside defender or make tackles downfield
- Reliable finisher who doesn’t miss many tackles inside the tackle box
Cons
- Pass rush processing leaves something to be desired
- Rush often stalls if the first move is foiled; would benefit from a deeper pool of counter moves
- Could improve his ability to reduce surface area when cornering
- Covers grass too often in his zone drops
- Has issues with contain discipline when initially unblocked
- Occasionally experiences balance issues when he drops to a knee to shed
- Tackle attempts can be reckless in open space
Lions fit
Allen perfectly fits what the Lions want at the JACK position. Physically, he’s the prototype 3-4 OLB, and his athletics traits and well-rounded skillset would make him a quality day one starter in Detroit.
