Panthers: Rookie QB Kyle Allen could be bridge to future
Once an undrafted free agent, the Carolina Panthers could have their quarterback of the future in Kyle Allen….
The story of the Carolina Panthers newest rookie quarterback is an interesting one. Kyle Allen landed at Texas A&M after a high school career that was highly decorated. Throwing for over 8,000 yards and 86 touchdowns, he was labeled the top signal-caller in the nation.
His college career is to say the least, a bit murkier. After splitting time with quarterback Kenny Hill in 2014 as the program tried to find the successor to Johnny Manziel, he left College Station in 2015, as he was frustrated with the culture of the program. Allen landed on his feet at Houston, where he also had to face adversity.
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He was not allowed to play in 2016 due to the NCAA transfer rules, and his first big break with the program came in 2017. Appearing in four games, he threw for 751 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. Turnovers among other things were key reasons as to why Allen was benched in favor of Cougars backup Kyle Postma.
With one year of eligibility remaining, he decided to enter the NFL Draft in January. By signing with the Panthers, he will try to gain stability in his football career for the first time since high school. Even now, being an undrafted free agent on a roster of hardened National Football League veterans creates a level of adversity on its own.
To make things even more complicated, he will presumably have to fight for the backup quarterback spot with Garrett Gilbert and Taylor Heinicke. At the very least, it is safe to say Allen has potential. While with the Aggies, Allen threw for 3,532 yards, 33 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, numbers that are even more impressive when you consider that he had to face stiff SEC competition.
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In February, I wrote that the Carolina Panthers would have to make drafting a quarterback a priority. Not only did they draft one, they drafted a player with starting potential. Cam Newton still has many good years left, he is far from done. However, Allen could be a very nice bridge to the future as he looks to right the ship that was a promising football career.