The Washington Redskins have traded a fifth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for quarterback Kyle Allen, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Redskins were in need of a backup quarterback and one that would compete and push second-year QB Dwayne Haskins.
Allen of course played under first year Redskins head coach Ron Rivera. Allen started 12 games last season for the Panthers after Rivera named him the starter following a foot injury to Cam Newton. Allen compiled a 5-7 record as a starter.
Allen was later benched following the firing of Rivera in favor of rookie quarterback Will Grier.
Allen completed 62% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, last season.
Allen was made available after Carolina signed XFL leading passer PJ Walker on Monday. The Panthers carried five quarterbacks, including Teddy Bridgewater and Newton following the pickup of Walker before trading Allen.
Washington was in search of a backup quarterback whom could push Haskins throughout training camp.
Allen, 24, was an undrafted quarterback in 2018 out of Houston. He signed with the Panthers and has a familiarity with Rivera and Redskins offensive coordinator Scott Turner from his time in Carolina.
Allen showed flashes with spectacular games like his first start against Arizona in which he threw for four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Carolina won his first four starts, as Allen had zero interceptions. However, he meeting against the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers showed he had room to improve, as he threw three interceptions in his first loss.
Allen won just one more game in his final eight starts, throwing 10 touchdowns against 16 interceptions. He also ate a lot of sacks, 46 to be exact. In a Week 13 loss to the Redskins, Allen was sacked seven times. That game led to Rivera’s firing.
Trading a fifth-round pick may be a bit high considering the Redskins enter next month’s draft with seven picks. Currently, they do not have a second-round pick. Yet, Allen has potential to develop and is a spot-starter. And he is one who Rivera and Turner trust to fall back on.
Barring adding a quarterback in the draft, it’s safe to presume the Redskins’ QB1 is Haskins’ to lose. However, Allen has enough of punch to make the battle competitive.
