How the Broncos Let Josh Allen Slip-and How the Bills Changed Their Franchise Forever
The 2018 NFL Draft was one of those nights that reshaped the league in ways we’re still feeling. With six picks already off the board, the Buffalo Bills were sitting at No. 7, a spot they’d moved up to after a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The mission was clear: find their quarterback of the future. And while there were still a couple of big-name passers available, Buffalo zeroed in on one-Josh Allen.
Allen wasn’t the consensus top guy coming into the draft. He wasn’t even expected to go in the top five.
But the Bills saw something special. With Tyrod Taylor and Nathan Peterman having split starts the previous season, Buffalo needed a new face of the franchise under center.
And in Allen, they found not just a quarterback, but a future MVP who would redefine the ceiling for their offense.
That moment at pick No. 7 didn’t just change Buffalo’s trajectory-it cast a long shadow over the Denver Broncos, who held the No. 5 pick and were also in quarterback purgatory at the time. Denver had a shot at Allen and passed. Years later, that decision still lingers.
Why the Broncos Passed on Josh Allen
Let’s rewind to Denver’s situation heading into that 2018 draft. In 2017, the Broncos had cycled through Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, and Paxton Lynch.
None of them looked like the long-term answer. The team finished 5-11, just two seasons removed from their Super Bowl 50 win, and the post-Peyton Manning era was already feeling bleak.
Despite the glaring need at quarterback, Denver opted to go a different route. They signed veteran Case Keenum in free agency and handed him the keys to the offense. That move gave them a little flexibility in the draft, or so they thought.
When the Browns took Denzel Ward at No. 4, that left both Josh Allen and Josh Rosen on the board. The Broncos, sitting at No. 5, had a decision to make. And instead of taking Allen, they went defense, selecting Bradley Chubb, a dominant edge rusher out of NC State.
Chubb had a promising start-12 sacks as a rookie, 7.5 more in 2020-but injuries slowed his momentum. By 2022, he was traded to the Dolphins. Meanwhile, Allen was blossoming into one of the league’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks, winning MVP honors in 2024 and turning Buffalo into a perennial contender.
Elway’s Regret
John Elway, the Hall of Fame quarterback turned Broncos GM, later admitted he wanted Allen. In a 2025 interview on Club Shay Shay, Elway said he “really liked” Allen as a prospect but couldn’t get full buy-in from his coaching staff.
“The way that I worked, I wanted buy-in from the coaching staff and I couldn’t get the buy-in,” Elway said. “I couldn’t get everybody on the same page with it.
When I say I regret it, it’s because I didn’t overrule everybody and say, ‘I’m taking him. I’m taking him because now it’s up to you to make him good.’”
That’s a rare bit of transparency from a front office exec, especially one of Elway’s stature. But it speaks to the internal dynamics that can derail a franchise-altering decision. Elway saw the potential, but without full support, he opted for consensus over conviction.
Why Allen Was a Question Mark
To be fair, Allen wasn’t a sure thing coming out of Wyoming. He had the size, the arm strength, the athleticism-but accuracy was a major red flag. He was raw, no doubt about it.
“He was very, very raw, right? And you know his accuracy was the biggest question,” Elway recalled.
“He was athletic as hell, big, strong, competitive and all those type of things. But you know that was the one question.”
Allen’s college tape showed flashes, but also inconsistency. He was a project, and not every team was willing to take that leap.
Buffalo, to their credit, did. And they built around him, developed him, and gave him the time and tools to grow into a superstar.
The Fallout in Denver
The decision to pass on Allen didn’t just sting in hindsight-it had real consequences. After Chubb, the Broncos continued their quarterback carousel: Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater, Russell Wilson.
None of them stuck. It wasn’t until 2024 that Denver finally landed a promising young quarterback in Bo Nix.
Meanwhile, the coaching staff that influenced the decision-led by head coach Vance Joseph-didn’t last long. Joseph was fired after the 2018 season.
Elway stepped down from his role as president of football operations in 2021. Chubb, the player they took instead of Allen, was gone by 2022.
Elway didn’t mince words when reflecting on it. “That was probably my biggest mistake of my GM days was not taking Josh,” he said on Pardon My Take in July 2024.
The 2018 Draft Class: A Look Back
The 2018 draft was stacked with talent, but it’s clear now that Allen was the crown jewel. Here's a quick glance at the top 15:
- Baker Mayfield, QB - Browns
- Saquon Barkley, RB - Giants
- Sam Darnold, QB - Jets
- Denzel Ward, CB - Browns
- Bradley Chubb, DE - Broncos
- Quenton Nelson, G - Colts
- Josh Allen, QB - Bills
- Roquan Smith, LB - Bears
- Mike McGlinchey, OT - 49ers
- Josh Rosen, QB - Cardinals
- Minkah Fitzpatrick, S - Dolphins
- Vita Vea, NT - Buccaneers
- Daron Payne, NT - Washington
- Marcus Davenport, DE - Saints
Some of these picks turned into stars. Others faded.
But the defining moment of that draft, in hindsight, was Buffalo trading up and grabbing Josh Allen at No. 7.
It changed their franchise forever. And for the Broncos, it became the one that got away.