Josh Allen is heading into a pivotal season in Buffalo, but one NFL insider says the Bills may already be dealing with tension around how much control their quarterback has been given.
The Athletic’s Mike Sando raised the issue while discussing whether Allen can take another step under new coach Joe Brady. His answer was measured, but the concern was clear: Buffalo may be dealing with a setup that creates as many questions as answers.
“I mean I think he can but I don't think that I feel so good about it that I'm necessarily going to bet on it happening. I think there's a wider range of outcomes,” Sando said on Sirius XM when asked if he expects Allen to unlock a new level this season.
Sando didn’t question Allen’s talent. He made that part plain. But he did point to the transition from Sean McDermott to Brady as something that could change the feel inside the building, especially with Brady moving from offensive coordinator and Allen ally into the top job.
“Look, they're going to be good. Josh Allen's going to make them good. But within that, the greatness, or is it too much of a good thing when your playcaller goes from kind of being your confidante, and maybe a little more of a friend than the head coach can be, to now going into that head coaching job.
“I think that is an interesting transition to make, when clearly before with Sean McDermott, he was in charge, also a defensive pedigree. I'm sure he went along with a lot of stuff Josh Allen wanted to do, but there was a little bit more of a check and balance there, I think.
“And so now, what does it mean? Is Josh Allen more empowered? I've heard whispers and people complaining a little bit in the league about the fact Josh Allen gets to do the pass protections how he wants them.
“I think that's been a little bit of a source of frustration on the staff, at times, in the past. Is that a good or a bad thing, if that's enabled more?
“Those would be the concerns. Not so much Josh Allen, I think we know he's going to be a star.
Just as you try to get over the top, are these fine tune changes good? Maybe not quite as good.”
Allen and the Bills have been one of the league’s top teams in recent years, but they still haven’t broken through to the Super Bowl. Last season ended in heartbreak with an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round, a defeat that led to McDermott losing his job.
Now Brady is in charge as Buffalo enters a new era, with the franchise also moving into its $2.2billion new stadium, a development that has already angered some fans.
On the field, the Bills are again expected to be among the AFC East favorites, but they finished second in the division last season after the New England Patriots’ unexpected surge ended Buffalo’s run of division titles dating back to 2019.
The Brady era starts on the road against the Houston Texans on September 13. Buffalo’s first home game at the new Highmark Stadium comes on September 17, when it hosts the first Thursday Night Football game of the season.
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