It’s been a long time since the New York Giants selected a linebacker in the first three rounds of the NFL draft, But that could change in 2026.
The 2026 NFL Draft has a very strong linebacker group that boasts a number of players who can fit a wide variety of schemes at the NFL level. Even considering the demands placed upon defenses by modern offenses, this year’s class should have a lot more “three down” linebackers than we’ve seen in recent classes.
Georgia linebacker CJ Allen is one of the more highly-regarded linebackers in the class. Not only does he have plenty of experience in Georgia’s sophisticated defense, but he’s also an ascending player who is turning Pro off his best year.
Allen’s draft stock could be a bit tough to predict, but could he be on the Giants’ radar if they don’t draft a linebacker in the first round?
Prospect: CJ Allen (3)
Games Watched: vs. Alabama (2025), vs. Ole Miss (2025), vs. Texas (2025), vs. Georgia Tech (2025)
Red Flags: Meniscus (November 2025, required surgery)
Measurables
Strengths
Best traits
- Run defense
- Technique
- Competitive toughness
- Burst
Georgia’s CJ Allen is a tough, competitive, and athletic off-ball linebacker.
Allen is undersized at 6-foot, 230 pounds, but he plays with good strength which he maximizes his technique. He doesn’t hesitate to take on offensive line blocks coming downhill, and does a very good job of using his hands and leverage to keep himself clean. He understands how to fight off blockers’ hands as well as use his pathing and positioning to keep them from locking in their blocks and taking him out of the play.
He’s also a very patient defender with a solid initial burst. That allows him to time his rushes to slip past blockers just before they fire their punches. That makes him an effective run defender as well as pass rusher.
Allen also shows good eyes and awareness when playing downhill from shallow zone coverage. He’s able to mirror running backs in man coverage or spy athletic quarterbacks, and he has a fast downhill trigger.
Finally, Allen seems to be an ascending player who has gotten better every year, and took steps forward as a run defender, pass rusher, and coverage player in 2025.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Zone coverage
- Length
- Health
Allen is an intriguing prospect, but has some notable holes in his game.
To start, while he’s an undersized linebacker, he doesn’t move like typical undersized off-ball linebackers. He has some lower-body stiffness and his long speed is lacking compared to others with his physical profile. There are instances where he can’t quite stay with pass catchers through their breaks, and he can struggle to run down ball carriers in space if he doesn’t take excellent angles.
He also plays very fast with his eyes in the backfield, but can also be a bit prone to playing through a straw and losing track of pass catchers running through his coverage zones.
And finally, while he’s a very capable run defender – and not just for an undersized off-ball linebacker – his overall size and length could be a problem for some teams.
Teams will also want to do their due diligence with the health of Allen’s knee. He suffered a torn meniscus against Texas that required surgery. While the injury – and surgery – was reportedly minor and he was able to play again 13 days later, swelling kept him from running at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Game Tape
(Allen is the Georgia linebacker wearing number 3.)
Projection
CJ Allen projects as a developmental linebacker at the NFL level. Allen would likely start his career as a depth or rotational player, but has the potential to grow into a starter in the right situation.
It’s notable that he improved each of his three years at Georgia and executed Kirby Smart’s sophisticated defense well. He has some athletic limitations that could keep him from being a great coverage linebacker, however he’s also better going downhill than many coverage linebackers.
Allen could be an ascending prospect who could improve significantly over the course of his rookie contract. He’ll likely be a Day 2 pick, but could wind up outplaying his draft slot.
Does he fit the Giants? Possibly, depending on scheme and value considerations.
Final Word: A later Day 2 pick
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