For those fans looking at too-early predictions for the 2026 NFL season, and specifically how those projections relate to the Indianapolis Colts, Indy fans might love and hate what ESPN thinks of second-round draft pick CJ Allen. The four-letter network thinks Allen can be good, but also, well...not.
The issue stems from a recent article by ESPN about the potential of different players to win Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year. Indianapolis doesn't really have a player that many would expect to be in the running for OROY, but DROY? The Colts could have a couple.
Safety AJ Haulcy is one, and Allen is the other. But ESPN, oddly, raves about how well Allen could play in 2026 and beyond but lists him among the "longer shots" of winning the rookie award. This is the third tier of those kinds of players.
ESPN's take on Indianapolis Colts rookie CJ Allen gets complicated
Ben Solak writes, "Here's the player who could really win it. Allen is the unquestioned LB1 in Indianapolis, was a prolific tackler at Georgia, and was drafted by the same GM (Chris Ballard) who snagged 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year winner Shaq Leonard -- a linebacker in Round 2. Coordinator Lou Anarumo's defense was great for Logan Wilson (four straight seasons of 100-plus tackles), and Allen has a strong football IQ to succeed within it. Great fit, great opportunity."
The question is, why doesn't CJ Allen rank higher among those who could win DROY? Even stranger, Allen ranks sixth overall in the candidate rankings. In other words, the linebacker actually has a pretty good chance of being such a standout in his first season that he wins the award for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
He might need to be great, too. Chris Ballard has done some seemingly very good things this offseason, some questionable moves, and some that make little sense. Indy's defense was pretty mediocre. The team was 16th in yards allowed per play (5.3), but fourth in missed tackles (125). The Colts were 21st in points allowed per game (24.2).
Part of the changes that Ballard made included trading longtime inside linebacker starter Zaire Franklin and not re-signing Germaine Pratt. Allen will most likely take Franklin's place as the green dot on the Indianapolis Colts' defense. As ESPN said, he does have a high football IQ and is a very good tackler. His presence alone should make Indy's defense better.
Good enough to help the team make the playoffs for the first time since 2020? Possibly. The good part is that 2026 is only the beginning for CJ Allen, most likely a long-term stalwart for the Colts.