General manager Chris Ballard appears to have made a wise move with the Indianapolis Colts' first choice in the 2026 NFL draft. The team selected based on a need, and took Georgia's CJ Allen in the second round. Indy defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo might be ready to make Allen the green dot in the linebacker's rookie season.
Anarumo was asked about that when speaking with the media on Wednesday. The DC had never had a first-year player calling the defensive plays that are relayed from the sideline, so Allen doing so would be a first in the long career of Anarumo.
According to The Athletic's James Boyd, Anarumo said, "I have not...We’ll see how it plays out. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a linebacker. Vonn Bell was my green dot in Cincinnati for a year as a safety. But I got a feeling (CJ Allen’s) gonna be able to do it."
Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo impressed with rookie CJ Allen
The most impressive part of the above might be that while Indianapolis scouted and talked to the linebacker during the draft process, he is only just now with the Colts in rookie minicamp. The team is only just beginning to know Allen extremely well, and he is already impressing the coaching staff.
This is to be expected, of course. At Georgia, Allen was known to be excellent against the run and an elite tackler, but his football IQ was highly respected. It seems he didn't just know the Bulldogs' system well, though. Allen can learn, adapt, and apply as needed.
He is also going to give the Colts everything Ballard hoped for when the GM said his team needed to get younger and more athletic this offseason. Trading longtime starter Zaire Franklin and not re-signing part-time 2025 starter Germaine Pratt certainly assisted with that philosophy. Adding players like Allen in the draft cemented it.
Like all rookies, CJ Allen is probably going to make his share of mistakes in year one. That is how he will learn. The difference between him and most other rookie linebackers is that the Georgia product could make fewer mistakes early, and then once they are made, people immediately remedied and the next time the situation happens will have a different outcome.
The safe assumption is that Allen is going to start Week 1, but what isn't completely known is who will be his inside linebacker partner. That could be veteran free agent acquisition Akeem Davis-Gaither or another draft choice, Bryce Boettcher. Either way, they will likely be hearing CJ Allen call out what they need to do on any given play.