While every HOF QB was not projected to be a future HOFer upon entry into pro football, others were certainly blue chip prospects predicted to have successful careers.
Josh Allen was considered a blue chip prospect upon entry into the league and this was confirmed to me by three NFL GMs and several scouts that I’ve known over the years. Indeed, some even had him as a high first round pick had he come out a year earlier.
His success is not a surprise to anyone connected to the game except those pundits and talking heads who created a false narrative about him in order to generate clicks. And it still rankles me to this day that so many fans ate it up like they did.
For what it’s worth, which ain’t much, I was never concerned about his physical gifts. The only concern I ever had was his sheer inexperience as a QB throughput his career, from pop warner to HS to junior college to Wyoming. When it was confirmed to me that he aced his Senior Bowl sessions with the coaches and how much he impressed Dabol et al at the combine interviews, I was convinced he possessed the necessary mental abilities as well.
The only remaining question for me was his heart and he showed that to me against the Chargers in his first start as a pro on a play that he actually threw an interception on. He was rolling to his right waiting for a receiver to uncover in the endzone, while dragging Melvin Ingram who was hanging on to him, and he let it rip. Ill-advised? Yes. A learning moment? Definitely. But that kind of heart is a rare trait and I was sold then and there.