Grading the Colts pick: Indy lands the linebacker help they desperately needed in Georgia 2025 All-American C.J. Allen
Indianapolis Colts land a 2025 All-American after trading back in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team adds former Georgia Bulldog linebacker C.J. Allen. So let’s grade their pick.
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard told everyone on hand at the scouting combine that the team wanted to get younger and faster on the defensive side of the ball. Their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft did just that. The team added Georgia Bulldog linebacker C.J. Allen in the second round.
Fans had to wait a bit longer than expected, but the Colts added a quality player. The team was originally set to pick at 47 but elected to trade back before selecting Allen. Was this pick worth the wait? Let’s discuss that and more as we grade the pick.
Colts trade back and get younger and faster by selecting linebacker CJ Allen
The Colts elected to push off their first selection in the draft even further, trading pick 47 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They landed a fourth-round pick and moved up in the seventh round to move back six picks to 53.
C.J. Allen is a player the team viewed highly, and he was under consideration to be the pick at 47. So to net a fourth in return and still land the 2025 consensus All-American is a major win for Indy.
What are the Colts getting in CJ Allen?
To learn more about C.J. Allen’s game, here is a breakdown by A to Z Sports NFL Draft analyst Ryan Roberts:
Despite three years of notable production, Allen has somehow become an underrated member of the 2026 NFL Draft class this offseason. Allen has an old school game, bringing a thick lower half and squatty frame to the table. The former Georgia star does all of the baseline things you would want in a MIKE linebacker, playing with great physicality when coming downhill.
Allen has good eyes and feel for the position, seemingly always being in the correct spot. Despite an old school game, Allen also brings some modern range to the table. He has good pursuit speed, showcasing the ability to play in pursuit and make plays toward the sideline. Even if Allen never becomes an impact player against the pass, he has clear upside as a plus starting MIKE linebacker on the next level.
A to Z Sports NFL draft analyst
Ryan Roberts
Grading the Colts ‘ selection of CJ Allen
Without a first-round pick, the Colts had a lot of pressure to hit big with their second-round selection. And I think that’s exactly what they did by selecting C.J. Allen.
Allen is only 21 years old and led a very good Georgia defense in tackles this past year with 88. He also showed off some great speed at his Pro Day, running a 4.47. Allen will slot in as the Colts’ starting MIKE linebacker as a rookie, and I think he will be a fan favorite in Indianapolis for a long time.
He was a player some thought could be a first-round pick. So, for the Colts to land him in a trade back to 53 is a massive win. His lack of proven playmaking in coverage is the only thing holding me back from giving this pick an A+. An A flat seems right, though, really good business by the Colts here.
Grade: A
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