NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Georgia LB CJ Allen

CJ Allen is a top-tier athlete who is great in coverage and has enormous potential at just 20 years old (turns 21 in March) to develop into a linebacker who never has to come off the field in the NFL.

Allen is 6'1", 235 pounds, and went to Georgia as a 4-star recruit in the 2023 class, per 247Sports. He immediately saw the field as a true freshman, participating in all 14 games with five starts to collect 40 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and two passes defended.

He was a full-time starter as a sophomore and racked up 76 tackles, three TFLs, an interception and four passes defended.

Matt Holder has been a part of B/R's Scouting Department for four seasons. He also writes about the Las Vegas Raiders and NFL draft for SB Nation's Silver and Black Pride, and co-hosts a YouTube Channel, Tape Don't Lie, providing film breakdowns and more draft prospect analysis.

- Very good athlete and smooth mover to cover tight ends and running backs when playing man coverage or tighten throwing windows in zone.

- Impressive hand-eye coordination and vertical jump to make plays on the ball in the air that most linebackers won't.

- Good speed to help carry wide receivers on vertical routes when playing Tampa 2 and gives him sideline-to-sideline range against the run.

- As a run defender, Allen can defeat blocks with his athleticism and a shoulder dip move.

- Also, he takes on blocks with his hands and has good pad level to get some extension and be solid at holding his ground.

- Sure tackler who wraps up and consistently brings running backs to the ground, has had very few misses in his career.

- Doesn't have much pop behind his pads when coming downhill, offensive linemen can absorb contact from him. Allen could afford to add some extra mass.

- Can be slow to key and diagnose run plays, leading to him getting caught in the trash or offensive linemen beating him to the spot.

- Late run-pass transitions against play action, leaving the middle of the field open.

- Showed a few mental lapses in coverage, occasionally playing the wrong assignment and leaving his man or area open, or taking the cheese on checkdowns in zone coverage.

GRADE: 7.8 (Key Contributor — 2nd Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: Devin Lloyd, Utah (7.9 in 2022), Jack Campbell, Iowa (7.8 in 2023), Quay Walker, Georgia (7.6 in 2022)

OVERALL RANK: 31

POSITION RANK: LB3

PRO COMPARISON: Daiyan Henley

Height: 6'1"
Weight: 235

Workout numbers and data will be added at a later date.