What grade does the Brandon Allen signing deserve?
A few weeks ago, I went over some possible backup quarterback options for the Bengals and went with Brandon Allen as the top option. It never felt like the team was going to go away from Allen considering he’s been with the organization since 2020 and has a solid relationship with both Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow.
Allen started five games for the stripes when Burrow went down in 2020 and didn’t look great but made enough of an impression to stick around for another year. He started one game in 2021 — the season finale vs. Cleveland — and didn’t look very good.
Be that as it may, the organization clearly values him as Burrow’s backup. As Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic noted, his relationship with Burrow was a big factor in the team bringing him back.
Was always a no-brainer to remain as Burrow's backup. Not only has enjoyed some quality moments when called upon, but has a great relationship with QB1, which is essential to keeping the makeup of the room in a great place. https://t.co/2HiNZUOgqY
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) March 17, 2022
If Burrow misses an extended period of time, the Bengals probably aren’t winning games. That’s even more apparent now that Allen is slated to be the backup yet again.
He’s not a bad option to have as a backup, but it felt like the Bengals should be more aggressive and find a better option to sit behind Burrow.
Brandon Allen grade: C