Odds Say Josh Allen is Taken 3rd Overall in the 2019 NFL Draft
- Oddsmakers favor Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen to go third in the 2019 NFL Draft
- Allen received the Chuck Bednarik Award as college football’s top defensive player in 2018
- He was also awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy the NCCA’s outstanding defender
For the second year in a row, there’s a fellow named Josh Allen who’s touted to go in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
And much like his namesake, Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, who went 17th overall to the Buffalo Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft, there’s plenty of debate over when Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen’s name will come off the draft board.
Which Player Will Be Selected 3rd Overall in NFL Draft?
| Player to be Selected 3rd overall in NFL Draft | Odds |
|---|---|
| Josh Allen | +165 |
| Ed Oliver | +275 |
| Quinnen Williams | +275 |
| Dwayne Haskins | +800 |
| Nick Bosa | +1000 |
| Drew Lock | +1400 |
| Kyler Murray | +2000 |
*Odds taken on 04/21/19.
A cross-section of NFL mock drafts show Allen going anywhere from as high as third overall to as low as sixth overall.
Oddsmakers are high on Allen’s draftability. They favor the Wildcats defensive star to hear his name called third overall on draft day.
Allen will be just the second Kentucky player to go in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2004. Current Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree was selected 22nd overall in 2015.
Josh Allen Delivers the Goods
Most scouts view Allen as the second-best edge rusher available in the 2019 NFL Draft behind Ohio State’s Nick Bosa.
Allen set a Kentucky school record last season with 17 sacks. He compiled 31.5 sacks during his career with the Wildcats.
Kentucky pass rusher Josh Allen set a school record with 17 sacks in 2018, pushing his career totals to 31½ sacks, 42 tackles for loss & 11 forced fumbles.
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— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 15, 2019
Considered a hybrid between a linebacker and a defensive end, Allen led the Wildcats with 88 tackles in 13 games.
He was tied for sixth in the NCAA with 21.5 tackles for loss. Allen also ranked second in the FBS in both sacks (17) and forced fumbles (five).
At 6-foot-5 and 262 pounds, Allen has the requisite size. There are concerns about his intensity and his ability to get the most out of his physical attributes.
Wildcats Are Wildcards
The history of taking Kentucky players high in the draft might scare off some teams.
Who can forget the only Wildcat to go first overall, QB Tim Couch in 1999?
Certainly, Cleveland Browns fans won’t. The Jets, who own this year’s No. 3 pick, took Kentucky DT Dewayne Robertson fourth overall in 2013 and that didn’t pan out.
You have to go all the way back to 1977, when the Kansas City Chiefs selected four-time Pro Bowl DT Art Still second overall, to locate a Kentucky first-round success story.
Who Will Be Three?
Almost every mock draft pegs Kyler Murray and Bosa to go 1-2, so we’ll eliminate them immediately from the debate.
Ultimately, it looks to be a choice between three defensive linemen – Quinnen Williams, Ed Oliver and Allen.
"Motor. I never stop. I won't stop."
Where will @JoshAllen41_ land in the @NFLDraft 👇
📺: First Draft pic.twitter.com/Q8WRsqAHYD
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 17, 2019
We think the Robertson experience will scare the Jets off from taking another Kentucky player. The Jets will either trade down or select Williams.
That leaves Allen at no. 4 for the Oakland Raiders, who view him as their replacement for Khalil Mack.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
