CJ Allen: Brainy Run-Stopper for Broncos

0:00On April 5th, draft seasons in full swing, and we're diving into Georgia linebacker CJ Allen, a standout with serious football smarts. He hit the field hard as a true freshman after an injury opened the door, starting right away. Over three years, he notched 46 pressures as a blitzer, 98 stops, and two fumbles forced, while in coverage he broke up five passes. But allowed a 68.4 completion rate, his game pops with Elite IQ, making him perfect as the green dot caller lining up the defense. Allen fires quick against the run between the tackles, blows up blocks, and uses timing to disrupt as a blitzer. He's got sideline speed, burst to chase plays, and solid tackling control that hits heavy. That said, his shorter length hurts big time, especially in coverage where he struggles to close windows, or handle seams. Splash plays are rare, and he might stick to short zones with safety help, while block shedding and aggression need polished to shine outside.

1:01For the Broncos, Allen feels like a younger, upgraded Alex Singleton, adding depth behind the vet they resigned. But projections have him as a first round talent, so snagging him at pick 62 or with a small trade-up seems like a long shot. Still, if he slips, Denver could lock in a brainy runstopper to build that linebacker room for the long haul.