Buffalo Bills: 5 questions heading into training camp

1) How much will Josh Allen play in 2018?

At the time of writing, Allen has yet to sign his rookie deal with the Bills. As per Mike Florio of NBC Sports, the hold up is due to offset language, which means players cut before the end of their rookie contract have the remaining guaranteed money reduced by whatever they earn elsewhere.

However, it is really a matter of when, not if, the 22-year-old signs his contract. With this in mind, the main question mark relates to how much action he will see in 2018.

During OTAs, it was clear the Bills were looking to bring Allen along slowly and not put too much pressure on him. However, he still looked sharp, as he displayed the talent and confidence which has people in Western New York hoping he genuinely is the long-term solution at quarterback.

As we enter training camp, anything is possible. In theory at least, all three candidates for the position have an equal shot at starting in Week 1, against the Baltimore Ravens,

At this stage, the smart money seems to be on A.J. McCarron being under center in Baltimore. He has a 2-1 record and 93.6 passer rating in limited playing time for the Cincinnati Bengals, and even has the experience of starting a playoff game.

In truth though, if McCarron or Nathan Peterman do get the nod on opening day, they know they will essentially just be keeping the seat warm for Allen. He will play at some point this year.

There is a school of thought that the Bills should just throw the rookie in at the deep end and let him learn on the job. However, they are several factors which will impact making such a move, two of which we will review in the following slides.

We would be weary of starting Allen in Week 1, as a disastrous beginning to the season could shatter his confidence and hinder his development. Of course, it will be tough to hold him out of the starting lineup, if he blows away the competition during training camp and the preseason.