How Josh Allen’s rise has underscored the Jets’ fateful 2018 decision
New York’s choice to trade up for Sam Darnold in a loaded quarterback class left the Bills to land Josh Allen four picks later — a divergence that has shaped both franchises.
When the New York Jets traded up to the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and selected USC quarterback Sam Darnold, they closed a chapter on a season the franchise had effectively conceded to chase a quarterback in a class many scouts called deep. Four selections later, the Buffalo Bills used the No. 7 pick on Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen. In the years since, Allen’s development into Buffalo’s franchise signal-caller has highlighted the long-term ramifications of New York’s draft-day decision.
The move to trade up and take Darnold came after a 2017 campaign in which the Jets appeared to prioritize draft positioning over competing for immediate wins. The top of the 2018 draft was reshaped by several quarterback prospects, with Baker Mayfield going No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Browns. The Jets, facing a projected quarterback market and the perceived opportunity to select a future starter, exchanged draft capital to ensure a top-three pick and selected Darnold.
Buffalo’s choice of Allen out of Wyoming has since become a defining contrast between the two AFC East franchises. Allen developed into a multi-year starter for the Bills, leading the team to sustained contention in the AFC and becoming the cornerstone of Buffalo’s roster construction. New York, by contrast, continued to search for stability at quarterback in the seasons that followed, a search that altered personnel plans and draft strategies.
The Jets’ 2018 decision reflected a common approach among teams seeking a franchise quarterback: sacrifice short-term competitiveness for the chance to draft a potential long-term solution. In New York’s case, the bet did not yield the immediate stabilizing effect the franchise sought. The Bills’ selection of Allen, meanwhile, provided Buffalo with a leading offensive identity around which the team could build.
Observers note that the outcomes for the two teams have been shaped not only by the initial draft choices but also by subsequent coaching, roster moves and player development. Buffalo invested in schemes and personnel that maximized Allen’s strengths, while New York’s quarterback room and supporting cast underwent more frequent turnover. Those differences contributed to a widening competitive gap within the division over the ensuing seasons.
The 2018 draft remains a touchstone in evaluations of the Jets’ front office decisions. For Buffalo, Allen’s emergence validated a willingness to invest in a high-upside prospect who combined size, arm talent and mobility. For New York, the selection of Darnold and the subsequent trajectory of the franchise have prompted scrutiny of draft strategy and roster construction.
Both franchises continue to evolve. The Jets have pursued changes aimed at stabilizing the roster and improving their competitive position, while the Bills have aimed to sustain the window opened by Allen’s ascension. The decision to trade up and take Darnold in 2018 — and Buffalo’s contrasting selection of Allen four picks later — remains a defining moment that continues to influence how each team is built and assessed.