Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen signs rookie contract

The phrase "deadlines spur actions" is often used for contracts in sports, and even though the Buffalo Bills took it right up to the finish line of the offseason, they finally got their guy signed.

On the day the Bills were supposed to report to training camp at St. John Fisher College, they have signed first-round pick and quarterback Josh Allen to his four-year rookie contract. By getting him locked in just one day before the first practice of training camp, the Bills will not have to worry about Allen missing any on-the-field time for that reason.

The Bills have said that Allen will start camp as the third string quarterback, while Nathan Peterman and A.J. McCarron will split the first-team reps. If they follow what they did at the end of spring workouts, Allen will get mixed in with some first-team reps as time goes on at camp.

The first practice for the Bills is Thursday, July 26 at 5:30 pm.

Joe B's Take

After Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns signed late Tuesday night, it was only a matter of 'when,' not 'if,' for the Bills to strike a four-year deal with Josh Allen. All the contracts are slotted and really it was all over the quibble of the offset language -- the sticking point to the negotiations between the Los Angeles Chargers and Joey Bosa in the buildup to the 2017 season.

Now that Allen is signed, this is the best thing for all parties. The team's secret plan that they always allude to that they have for the rookie quarterback was followed during the spring workouts, and now they don't have to worry about missed time being a minor setback to his progression on the Bills roster.

What this now does is make it a real possibility for Allen to win the job outright after training camp. He'll certainly have some work to do, and he must show in both practices and in preseason games that the offense and the game isn't too big for him as a rookie. However, should he show signs of life as the summer work wears on, there is a real chance of Allen being able to procure the job from both A.J. McCarron and Nathan Peterman.

He has the most raw ability of the bunch, and now he must show that he can get the job done and is the best starting option available to them by the time September rolls around. And now, nothing is stopping Allen outside of what will happen on the field over the next month-plus.

Twitter: @JoeBuscaglia