Allen has received praise for his unique combination of size, arm strength, athleticism, mental toughness, and leadership skills, drawing comparisons to John Elway,[ Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, and Cam Newton. He was highly sought after in the NFL draft for his "raw potential" despite criticism of his consistency and accuracy coming out of college. Allen is a self-identified gunslinger, attempting and completing difficult passes but sometimes taking unnecessary risks. However, his work ethic and training under former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, current offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, and throwing coach Jordan Palmer have been cited as instrumental in his development into a more accurate and methodical passer. His scrambling and rushing abilities have also been cited as key strengths, especially given his large size, which makes it difficult for defenders to tackle him.