When asked who has the strongest arm in the NFL, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen advised not to overlook Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills quarterback, has perhaps the strongest arm in the NFL today, but when asked who has THE strongest, he used the chance to show some love to his fellow quarterbacks.
Allen went on Fox Sports 1’s Speak during Super Bowl media week, when former NFL running back and Bills teammate LeSean McCoy questioned him about the strongest arm controversy. While not his choice for the championship, Allen did give a special thanks to Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a quarterback whose arm talent he believes is underappreciated.
“You know who’s got a sneaky big arm is [Mayfield],” Allen went on to say. “Baker Mayfield has a cannon, and I don’t believe he receives enough credit for it. I am serious. He can definitely toss the ball.”
Take a look:
"You know who has a sneaky big arm? It's Bake. Baker Mayfield's got a cannon and I don't think he gets enough credit for it." -Josh Allen on which #NFL has a big arm @953WDAE pic.twitter.com/SiVlmTDg5I
— Christopher Mathis 🎙 (@thechrismathis) February 9, 2024
McCoy and the rest of the Speak team scoffed off Allen’s comment, but on closer inspection, he appears to be onto something. Mayfield is one of just a few quarterbacks that have thrown over 60 mph at the NFL Scouting Combine (Allen is another), and in December 2020, he threw the longest NFL pass Pro Football Focus has ever monitored in a game.
Allen and Mayfield were among the best quarterback prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft, but their careers have gone quite different paths. Allen, the seventh overall pick, has been one of the league’s greatest quarterbacks, finishing in the top five in MVP voting three out of the last four seasons. On the other hand, Mayfield, the first overall choice, has had a roller coaster of a career.
Baker Mayfield's end of the half hail mary attempt last night was the longest NFL pass attempt PFF has ever charted 🚀 👀 pic.twitter.com/lsRWDiwCjT
— PFF (@PFF) December 15, 2020
Despite his troubles, Mayfield was given one final opportunity with Tampa Bay past summer. Most anticipated him to be a bridge option while the Buccaneers rebuilt after losing Tom Brady, but Mayfield surprised everyone by posting a career season with 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. He led the Bucs to the NFC South title and a trip to the Divisional Round before placing third in Comeback Player of the Year voting.
Despite the fact that the two quarterbacks don’t regularly cross paths, Allen’s encouragement for his fellow 2018 draftee is encouraging.
