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Watch: Josh Allen Provides His Thoughts on Diggs Trade, Veteran Departures & Leadership
Josh Allen was positive about the changes at One Bills Drive during his first official offseason appearance
In his first official public appearance since several significant offseason moves were orchestrated by Brandon Beane, Josh Allen provided his views and insights on the impact to the team, the upcoming NFL draft and how he will lead preparation for the 2024 season.
On Diggs:
Josh disclosed that he had texted back and forth with Diggs post-trade. "I shared a text with him and got one back.... I wish {Diggs] nothing but the best,"
Allen was asked what Diggs meant to the team's success: "He meant a lot. If you look at the statistics...they don't lie. Numbers don't lie... but...its an opportunity for those guys that we have in our room....within the system anyone can get the ball at anytime."
Allen acknowledged the positive influence Diggs had on the team: "His mentality and the way he attacked every practice was infections."
"My lasting memory of Stef will be the receiver that helped me become the quarterback I am today and I will always thank him for that."
On the Bills Youth Movement & Veteran Departures:
Acknowledging its this will be his 7th season, Josh said that the departures of many of the Bills' veteran leaders provides Allen with "an opportunity for myself to grow as a leader....to be the guy I am supposed to be."
On the changes the team made to manage the salary cap which resulted in new faces in the locker room and some less experienced players moving into prominent roles "its not a wrong or bad thing to get younger...it's an opportunity to mold these guys into the team you want to be...it's is an exciting opportunity."
On Mitch Morse: "I absolutely love Mitch {Morse} with every ounce of my being." Allen noted that he had spent time with Mitch the last few weeks after Morse had been released and signed with Jaguars on a two-year, $10.5 million contract that includes $7 million guaranteed. "Its never gonna be easy to replace someone you've been playing so long with...we kinda new each other like the back of our hands."
Regarding the teams new center Connor McGovern: "it takes a while to get to know someone and how they snap...on guns shots where is the miss?..it takes time, it takes repetition."
On the Upcoming NFL Draft, Josh's Influence & Selecting Wide Receivers:
"I look at all the highlight tapes on YouTube."
On influencing Brandon Beane on who to select at the NFL Draft:
"There is a lot of talented guys in this draft....I am doing my own evals right now and I am trying to lean Beane one way or the other...It depends on what this offense wants to be with Joe [Brady, offensive coordinator} and myself...and how do we utilize certain guys if we pick them."
"it depends on what we want to be as an offense to see who is going to be the best fit."
On his influence selecting Dalton Kinkaid at last years draft: "Last year draft day I sent Beane a text that said "Dalton Kinkaid...that's all I said" "I'd like to think I have some input on who we pick... but I really don't."
He noted that players that the team targets in the draft should be additive and fill in gaps with the existing talent on offense: "having talent and bringing in Curtis Samuel and the different things he can do..pairing him with Kahlil...and Dalton and Dawson and what they can do. Bringing in someone that pairs [well] with those guys."
On Allen's Maturity and Growth as a Leader:
"As a franchise quarterback...your not getting paid just to be a quarterback. you're getting paid to be the best leader you can be...you wear many hats in this building"
On growing into a leader: " I feel like I'm one of the guys...some times I have to remind myself that you're looked at differently. Guys are relying on you more."
On team leadership: "Everyone has something different for what makes them tick. What is their reason for playing this game. Diving deeper into that relationship and getting to know them on a deeper level... to push them to be the best they can be."
On Tom Brady and Josh's recent play at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf Tourney
Taking a shot at Tom Brady's golf game: "We didn't talk about ball. I was too busy beating him up on the golf course to care about that."
Notably, Brady has recently said that he believes Josh will be the next to win his first Superbowl.
On playing golf with Tiger Woods: "It was pretty cool!"
On his admiration for Tiger: "They say don't meet your heroes...unless you hero is Tiger Woods" "I have so much admiration and respect for him and what's he has been able to do over his career...the tenacity and mentality that [Tiger] had...there was some good conversations that we had about that on the course."
"My hand was shaking" on teeing off at the Pro-Am with Tiger Woods.
On the special week playing golf at the Pebble Pro-Am: "I got to have my brother on the [caddie] bag"
Overall Josh was in a positive and enthusiastic mood. He seems to have that positive mojo back and appears hungry to grow and lead the team in 2024.
