After moving on from Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch in 2017, the Denver Broncos went into the 2018 offseason in search of a quarterback.
Then-general manager/executive VP of football operations John Elway signed Case Keenum during free agency in March. One month later, the Broncos held the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
After signing Keenum, Denver passed on Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen at No. 5 to instead select NC State edge defender Bradley Chubb. Allen went off the board two picks later to the Buffalo Bills.
Chubb, a two-time Pro Bowler, totaled 26 sacks in four and a half seasons with the Broncos before being traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2022. Allen, also a two-time Pro Bowler, has helped the Bills reach the playoffs in each of the last five seasons.
In hindsight, passing on Allen was a terrible decision by the Broncos, one that former cornerback Chris Harris still can’t believe.
“That Josh Allen pass up still hurting the broncos,” Harris tweeted earlier this week. “When we had Shaq Barrett and Von lol.”
One year after Denver drafted Chubb, the team let Shaq Barrett walk in free agency. He went on to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 and he totaled 19.5 sacks in his first season. Barrett has recorded 45 sacks over the last five seasons with the Bucs.
Harris certainly isn’t alone in his bewilderment, although some Broncos fans think Allen would not have developed into the QB he is today had he landed in Denver.
That Josh Allen pass up still hurting the broncos . When we had Shaq Barrett and Von lol
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) January 15, 2024
That was like something personal . Kyle and Josh would have been cheating 😂 https://t.co/Rww8bm44JF
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) January 15, 2024
Crazy how we drafted Bradley Chubb instead of re-signing Shaq Barrett and drafting Josh Allen.
But if Josh Allen was drafted by the Broncos, he'd be gone by now anyways. https://t.co/OmrtoxVhg1
— Marc Louis (@MA7290) January 15, 2024
🗣️ Josh Allen wouldn't have been Josh Allen if the #Broncos drafted him. https://t.co/LFNzU6lar5
— Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) January 15, 2024
He woulda been better lol https://t.co/EJyHEDSSQi
— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisJr) January 15, 2024
Josh Allen is NOT human!! 🐐
Only QB in NFL history to account for 40 TD’s four straight yrs (nobody else even has 3)
Only QB in playoff history to average 250 yds passing & 50 rushing
“bUt hE tHrOws TOo mANy iNtS!”
– 32 less interceptions thru 6 yrs than Peyton Manning 🤷🏻♂️
— Zach Bye (@byesline) January 15, 2024
Watching playoffs without the Broncos again. Can't help but think about the fact that they passed on Mahomes and Josh Allen. Whoever was running the show at that time should truly be out of football altogether. We could have been set at QB for a decade. #Elway #Broncos #JoshAllen
— JTMUSIC (@JosephToscano3) January 16, 2024
@Broncos watching Josh Allen today again, proves we screwed that up. Let’s quit living in quarterback purgatory and make a bold move and go get our Josh Allen. That way we can be in the playoffs and we can be competitive and we can try and win a championship.
— Gregory Rowe (@GregoryBRowe_II) January 16, 2024
Watched Bills win tonight & reminisced that @Broncos took Bradley Chubb with pick 5 in 2018 draft & Josh Allen was pick 7? How many quarterbacks & disappointments have we endured since then? Total missed opportunity.
— JRP Colorado (@joerpenta) January 16, 2024
In an alternate universe Broncos would have 5 SBs right now with Josh Allen as QB and having won his 4th straight AFC West title
— Alberto Milian (@amilian) January 15, 2024
Broncos fans rest easy knowing that in an alternate universe the team is being coached by Kyle Shanahan and Qbed by Josh Allen !! 🫠
— Teddy 2x (@TopTierTeddy) January 16, 2024
@Broncos we should be soooo glad the Broncos scouts didn’t pick on Josh Allen when he was only three hours away in college.
— Books and Cigars (@hcinco67) January 15, 2024
Why did the Broncos not draft Josh Allen 😢
— Verlaxify (@Verlaxify) January 15, 2024
and the broncos drafted Chubb (who we have already traded away for nobody) before Josh Allen
— Luke (@professorhare) January 15, 2024
I will never get over the fact John Elway didn't think it was worth it to make the quick trip up to Laramie to watch Josh Allen's pro day and ended up passing on him in the draft
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) January 15, 2024
Of all the missteps in the “world of suck” era in Broncos history, passing on Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL Draft is the most consequential.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) January 16, 2024
Broncos fans will be rooting for Allen (and Von Miller) when the Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday.
