Colts draft LB C.J. Allen - Round 2, Pick 53

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

Here was the Ringer's scouting report. They had him ranked 48 on their Big Board.

https://theringer.com/nfl-draft/2026/big-board#content

Player comp: Shades of Devin White

Do-everything linebacker who brings an intimidating presence against the run and good range in coverage.

Allen is a versatile, rangy linebacker who plays with a high-intensity style against both the run and pass. A three-year contributor at Georgia, he’s a leader in the middle of the Bulldogs defense, helping establish the unit’s physical, tough identity. He has a well-built, muscular frame and shows the strength to take on blocks while bringing plenty of stopping power to stymie ballcarriers in the run game. Allen has good vision to sort through the mass of bodies and still keep his eyes on the target. He stays clean to avoid being blocked out of the play and is a reliable tackler with very good closing speed. He’s comfortable in space and shows a knack for positioning himself to get into passing lanes and disrupt throws. Allen flashes the athleticism to run step-for-step with tight ends on vertical routes in coverage and brings some pop when he closes on a pass catcher, laying hits to try to dislodge the pass. He’s an absolute pile driver as a blitzer, showing the ability to knock running backs into the pocket and into the quarterback’s lap.

Allen lacks top-tier agility and appears a little bit stiff at moments, especially in man-to-man coverage. He can lose a step to shiftier pass catchers. He occasionally allows himself to get blocked out of the play, and at times takes poor angles to the ball. He can be lured out of position by ball fakes.