Ever since the Cincinnati Bengals drafted quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the position has been settled for Cincinnati. However, despite being a pocket passer, Burrow has had trouble staying on the field as he has had three seasons where he has played in 10 games or less due to injuries.
Those issues began during his impressive rookie season, where he suffered a torn ACL and missed the final six games of the season. His replacement that season, whose primary job was to mentor rookie Burrow and serve as his backup, was Brandon Allen. Now, Allen has joined a new NFL team.
Former Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Signs With Giants
The New York Giants announced they have signed former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen.
Allen spent three seasons with the Bengals, appearing in 12 games from 2020 to 2022. He started five games for Cincinnati in 2020 after Burrow’s injury. The Bengals went 1-4 in those five games as Allen threw for 925 passing yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Despite the team’s losing record, Allen was re-signed for the 2021 season, where he started only one game. He was then re-signed for the 2022 season, as Cincinnati deemed him to be their top available backup quarterback entering free agency, primarily due to his positive relationship with Joe Burrow.
Allen was briefly cut before the 2022 season, but was re-signed the very next day. Unfortunately for Allen, 2022 would be his last season with the Bengals as he left in free agency following the season, as he signed with the San Francisco 49ers. In his place, the Bengals promoted third-string quarterback Jake Browning.
After two seasons with the 49ers, Allen signed with the Titans before joining the Giants. The veteran quarterback has now totaled over $10 million in career earnings, according to Spotrac.
Bengals Draft Outlook
Shifting gears to the future for Cincinnati, their top priority at the moment is adding a quality playmaker with the No. 10 selection in the upcoming NFL Draft.
While many have expected Cincinnati to address their defensive line, following the departure of Trey Hendrickson, there seems to be a growing belief that the Bengals might address their secondary with their first selection.
A new mock draft on NFL.com by Gennaro Filice predicted that the Bengals would draft Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy. Filice wrote:
“With the top three pass rushers off the board, the Bengals turn to pass coverage. McCoy’s evaluation is muddied by the fact that he didn’t play a snap in 2025 while recovering from a torn ACL, but the 2024 tape’s impressive, and the reported 4.38-second 40-yard dash at his pro-day workout doesn’t hurt.”
Prior to the draft process beginning, McCoy was seen by many as the top cornerback available; however, he was sidelined through the process as he missed the 2024 season with an ACL injury and then did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. His previously mentioned 40-yard dash seems to have improved his draft stock and shed concerns about his availability heading into next season.
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