The Carolina Panthers have traded quarterback Kyle Allen to the Washington Redskins for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, according to multiple reports on Monday. The decision to trade Allen was sparked by Carolina’s addition of XFL standout quarterback P.J. Walker, who agreed to terms with the team on Monday, too.
Allen, 24, had an unexpected ascent to the starting lineup last season after veteran Cam Newton was forced out of the lineup with a foot injury he sustained late in the preseason. The injury ultimately required surgery and cost him the year.
Allen started 12 games for the Panthers, finishing with a 5-7 record in those games. He threw for 3,322 yards with 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in a season that did have some promising moments.
Related: Saints likely out of 1st-round WR market after Sanders signing
New Redskins coach Ron Rivera knows those high moments well; he was Carolina’s head coach last season and consistently praised Allen throughout the year, even when he appeared to be hitting that ‘rookie’ wall.
The compensation for Allen — a fifth-round pick — seems awfully high for a player who became disposable immediately after Walker’s signing. He likely would’ve been released, which begs the question of why Washington would part with anything but a seventh-round pick (or conditional pick at that).
The Redskins offense will feature former Ohio State standout Dwayne Haskins in 2020, who they picked 15th overall in 2019. There’s no reason to believe Allen will pose a threat to Haskins’ starting job, assuming Haskins develops the way second-year quarterbacks are supposed to.
Washington at least has a quality backup in place in the event Haskins does fail. It just seems like quite the price to pay for a player whose ceiling is QB2.
The Redskins join the Bears as teams making trades for quarterbacks this offseason. Chicago traded for former Jacksonville Jaguar ‘starter’ Nick Foles last week, sending a fourth-rounder in 2020 for his services. Foles is expected to compete with Mitch Trubisky for the starting job this year.