Bills' Kyle Allen Lands in Bottom 5 of Backup QB Rankings

While Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is a perennial MVP candidate, his new backup, Kyle Allen, ranked towards the bottom in these power rankings.

When you have a superstar franchise quarterback, it can be easy to forget just how vital having a reliable backup is for your roster, a situation the Buffalo Bills find themselves in.

Josh Allen is a perennial MVP candidate and universally seen as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Having him at the helm can in turn downplay the significance of a competent backup, at least to some. 

But not to Sports Illustrated, which ranked Kyle Allen at No. 27 overall in its backup quarterback power rankings - making him the lowest-ranked backup signal-caller in the AFC East. 

"Allen is another experienced veteran quarterback with some success in the league," SI wrote. "He’s best remembered for his four consecutive wins with the Panthers while filling in for the injured Cam Newton in 2019. But Allen, who has 19 career starts, ended that season on a six-game losing streak."

Last season, the Bills didn't need Allen's backup to start any games, with Case Keenum only making two appearances. The Bills went a sparkling 13-3 with their starter running the show. 

However, injuries do happen and in the worst-case scenario that one occurs, the Bills need to be able to rely on Kyle Allen to step up when his name is called and lead the way. 

Looking to the past, though, could leave some room to be hesitant about just how likely that outcome would be. He has made 19 career starts, sporting a 7-12 record while throwing for 4,281 yards with 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. 

Fortunately for the Bills, of course, their starter has shown that he can endure the wear and tear of his position. Should he miss time in 2023 however, they hope that Allen can step in and help the offense not miss a beat. 

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You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98

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