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The Jacksonville Jaguars selected quarterback Brandon Allen in the sixth round, with the 201st overall selection in the NFL Draft. Usually, it's hard for a sixth round pick to make an NFL roster, but Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell has found a way to hit on many of his later round draft picks, and I believe Allen has the tools to be another solid late round "steal".
Even if he makes the team, it will be hard to call Brandon Allen a "steal" because he will make the team to be Blake Bortles backup at quarterback. However, it would be very respectable if Allen beat Chad Henne out for the No. 2 spot on the roster at quarterback -- and I believe he can do just that.
This isn't a knock on Chad Henne. Henne is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL, regardless of what the fans think. He's a respected guy in the locker room and is serviceable on the field if and when Bortles isn't available to play. However, I think Brandon Allen flashes enough potential to replace Henne in the future, whether it be this preseason or after taking a year on the practice squad and taking Henne's spot next year.
Allen was a three year starter at the University of Arkansas, where he threw for a school record 64 touchdowns in his career. Allen thrives in stretching the field and moving the offense, as seen by his 48 completions of 20 or more yards in his senior season -- a trait that is very valuable in the Jaguars offensive scheme, as Jaguars wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns averaged 17.5 and 16.1 yards per catch in 2015, respectively.
Brandon Allen possesses a smaller frame -- 6'1", 217 pounds with 8.5-inch hands. However, while his size isn't favorable in the NFL, his poise and skill set as a pro-style quarterback is. Allen ran a pro-style offense at Arkansas and is capable of running an offense from both under center and in the shotgun.
Allen also has polished footwork and can move well in the pocket to make throws.
As poised as Allen is in the pocket, Allen is also mobile enough to make plays outside of the pocket, whether he is scrambling to make a throw...
...or has to tuck the ball and make a play of his own.
Brandon Allen possesses tools that could even make him a successful starter at an NFL level. If it weren't for his size, Allen would have been a top-five quarterback in this draft and a much higher draft pick. I'm certainly excited to watch him compete with Chad Henne for the backup spot at quarterback behind Blake Bortles.
As cool as it is to have a backup quarterback who carries the swagger of a Fu Manchu mustache and beats 260 pound linebackers in wrestling bouts.
It's even cooler to have a backup quarterback who can make plays like this.
That's why Brandon Allen is #MyBackupQB.