Where you land matters. When it comes to former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen, he ended up in a fantastic spot. While he should have been one of the first 32 players taken in April's NFL Draft, he found himself as a mid-second round pick by the Indianapolis Colts. This AFC South franchise made Allen's NFL dreams come true as the No. 53 overall selection. What else should we know about him?
In Field Yates' latest for ESPN, he listed Allen by name as one of his handful of day two and three picks who could be instant impact players in the NFL. Allen may have been the only former Georgia player to appear in Yates' article, but the point remains the same. When it comes to Allen, we are talking about an instinctive and highly-productive player in the middle of everything. Georgia loved him for it.
Yates cited there being plenty of available snaps for Allen to take advantage of during his earliest days in Indianapolis. Although he will be playing for an offensive-minded head coach in Shane Steichen, Allen will get to grow and prosper alongside fellow draft classmate in Bryce Boettcher out of Oregon. If they can take each others' games up a level, the Colts should have a stronger defense.
All the while, Kirby Smart knows that the rest of the NFL will look foolish for passing on his player...
CJ Allen is poised to make an impact right away on the Indianapolis Colts
While there have been mixed reviews about the state of Georgia's returning production on defense, Allen was the straw that stirred the drink last year. He was the one who wore the green dot. It is not Raylen Wilson's responsibility, but one he will surely take great ownership of. When it comes to Allen, the Colts are getting themselves a bona-fide leader in the middle of their defense. They needed one.
At this time, the Colts continue to find themselves in the awful middle of the NFL. They are too good to be picking near the top of the first round of the NFL Draft, but they are not consistent enough to be anything close to a playoff staple. This is a consequence of long-time general manager Chris Ballard being able to operate without consequence. He might hit on some picks, but he will also whiff a ton...
Ultimately, Allen projects to be a cultural tone-setter in the middle of this Indianapolis defense. His high football IQ and leadership traits will go a long way in helping this franchise win its first division crown since 2014. The Colts used to dominate the AFC South under previous regimes. The hope is what makes Allen special could effectively translate into exactly what the Colts have been missing.
It may be a tall ask out of him, but the Colts need Allen to play at a Pro Bowl level almost right away.
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