Bills make dramatic trade up to nab Allen at No. 7

The Buffalo Bills selected quarterback Josh Allen out of Wyoming with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft after trading up from the No. 12 overall pick with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Allen was a candidate to be taken first overall but fell to Buffalo, who swapped first-rounders and sent two second-rounders to Tampa Bay for the rights to its new franchise player.

The 21-year-old had a controversial 24 hours before the draft, as offensive tweets from his high-school days surfaced.

The big-armed pivot may be the most polarizing prospect in the draft. Some are enamored with his elite physical skill, while others question his accuracy and football IQ.

Allen will battle with AJ McCarron for the Bills' starting job.

Josh Allen Bio

Position: QB
School: Wyoming
College Experience: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6-5
Weight: 233 lbs

Strengths

• All-time great arm strength. Can get consistently outstanding velocity on throws, making passes outside the hash marks look routine.
• Prototypical frame and strength, with above-average athleticism that allows him to evade pass-rushers get solid yards on the ground.
• Experienced playing under center and making full-field reads.

Weaknesses

• Poor accuracy. Finished both 2016 and 2017 at around a 56 percent completion percentage.
• Often tries to extend the play in ways that won't work at the professional level. Needs to learn to live to fight another down.
• Struggles with timing, touch, and anticipation.
• Pocket presence lags behind the top prospects in this class.

Athletic testing