NFL Draft 2019: Josh Allen could help Chiefs replace Justin Houston

Weaknesses

No player is without their faults. Even with all of the great plays and instincts that Allen displays, there are still some concerns about his game. Let’s take a look at what questions evaluators are going to focus on during the draft process.

Athleticism

This is not so much of a weakness as much of it is an unknown. Josh Allen passes the eyeball test, but not convincingly. There are times his burst looks elite, and other times it looks below average. His straight-line speed is questionable. While his functional strength appears adequate, Allen will have to show that he has enough power to survive in the trenches in the NFL.

Pursuit

This is an interesting one to list for a linebacker as a weakness, as it is a primary responsibility for defenders. Josh Allen has moments where he simply looks slow to react and pursue in space, especially when he finds himself on the backside of a play. This can raise red flags for a variety of reasons: Poor instincts and awareness, low effort, or even a lack of confidence in his own ability to chase down the play. I imagine Allen will be asked about these plays in interviews, hustle and effort plays can make the difference between a win and a loss in the NFL.

Counter moves and disengaging

This is a two for one and another area that is not necessarily a weakness as much as it is an unknown. Allen has a healthy arsenal of pass rushing moves, but I did not see him win much with his counter moves. The moves were definitely present, just not very successful. This leads to the other point, Allen had a tendency to get absorbed at times by blockers and seemed to struggle to disengage even when changing directions. This could be the result of college lineman getting away with holding, or it could be a bigger issue.