Bills GM Brandon Beane was visibly frustrated while shutting down “naysayers” that think Josh Allen is one of the NFL’s most overrated quarterbacks.
It came after ESPN published a survey of 80 NFL coaches, execs and scouts who ranked the league’s top 10 players at 11 positions — and one anonymous exec said the two-time Pro Bowler was “one of the more overrated players in the NFL.”
“I don’t know where to start. It’s frustrating,” Beane said during Bills training camp on Wednesday. “You try to ignore this stuff, but Josh is going into Year 7 and there’s still the naysayers. I don’t get it. If I was going to use rated, I would say underrated before I would say overrated. And I know I’m biased. He’s our guy, love him every single day.
“These things that come out there — I know people love the rankings of whoever — but when you don’t put your name to it and you make comments like that. Like, who is this executive? Executive is a loose term. I was probably referred to as an executive well before I should have been. I just say, if you’re not going to put your name on it, we really shouldn’t validate it.”
Allen was ranked third at quarterback behind AFC rivals Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow.
Beane went on to explain that he’s “not a fan of that style” of work.
“I wish the writer wouldn’t include a comment like that. I don’t think Josh deserves that. And again I’m biased, but I’m tired of hearing it… there’s idiots everywhere,” Beane said.
“… They’re looking for things. You can look at any player in any sport and point out negatives. No one is God or a robot. Josh’s positives don’t even come close to the negatives. And so, for what he’s done for this team; for what he’s done in this league, to his own accomplishments, to say he’s overrated and to point out a flaw here or there, it’s ignorant.”
That exec cited in ESPN’s survey explained Allen’s immense talent is overshadowed by “a lot of mistakes” — adding the quarterback’s 47 interceptions since 2020 are the most the in the league.
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“He’s underdeveloped at winning at the line of scrimmage, tends to lock on to targets, more of a thrower than precision passer, forces throws into traffic,” the anonymous exec said.
Allen is coming off of a strong 2023 campaign in which he was fourth in the NFL with 4,306 yards passing along with 29 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
He ran for 524 yards and his 15 rushing touchdowns were tied for second-most in the league.
Allen led the Bills back to the playoffs, where they were again foiled by the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“He’s got a natural chip, and I don’t think what this person said would change that,” Beane said. “I think he’s coming in this year with a chip. He wants a title. He wants it. Every year that we don’t win it, it’s digging a deeper chip, and I think that’s what motivates him.”
Bills coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday, “I’ve noticed a ratcheted-up form of Josh [Allen] from a leadership standpoint.”
The Bills open the 2024 season against the Cardinals in Orchard Park on Sept. 8.