Braelon Allen 2024 NFL Draft Profile
We’re officially a month away from the 2024 NFL Draft. I would have liked to start these a bit sooner but I don’t have enough help. Regardless, the NFL Draft Profile series begins today and we’re starting with Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen. We’re going to go over everything that you need to know.
For starters, the size obviously stands out. It’s not just the size, it’s the age too. Allen, 20, stands at 6-foot-1, 235. He’s one of the bigger and younger backs in the draft class. At the core of this prospect, Allen is a huge lump of clay who still hasn’t played his best football. Allen was listed as a four-star prospect coming out of high school.
As much as you want to fall in love, there are some obvious concerns. Allen didn’t run at the Combine, which should make people question his top end speed. He’s also not the most prolific route runner in the world with shaky hands. The former Badgers running back also has a huge fumbling concern. Something we tracked on more than one occasion. The Ohio State game was fumble city and that just can’t happen.
It’s not all bad. If you’re looking for the next iteration of Derrick Henry, this is your best chance of finding him. Allen was electric as a freshman and Wisconsin has a strong track record of producing NFL running backs. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry as a freshman and his worst year was actually this past year adjusting to the new offense with Phil Longo.
At his peak, Allen could become similar to what Henry is. Once he gets a head of steam going, he’s tough to bring down. You wish he ran a bit angrier but he’s a rare athlete. It’s more of a bowling pin with the bumpers up rather than an F U mentality running the ball but it works.
At the end of the day, I have Allen as my RB2 in the draft. Mostly because of the long term upside he has. The lack of passing game potential limits the upside but as a pure running back to run the offense through, he’s about the best you’re going to do. There is going to take some projection with Allen but we have to remember how young he is. Still very much wet behind the ears and we haven’t seen his best football yet.
I think you’re getting something that’s better than AJ Dillon but not quite as good as Derrick Henry. I’d be willing to take him in the 4th round to serve as a bigger back in a committee.
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