Alabama LB Chris Allen goes undrafted, plans to sign with Broncos
Alabama pass rusher Chris Allen has made it to the NFL. After getting passed on during the first two days of the 2022 NFL Draft, he, unfortunately, went unselected on Day 3 as well. Soon after the draft was over, news broke that Allen would be signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Denver Broncos.
Mike Klis, a Broncos beat reporter for 9News, was the first to break Allen’s landing spot via Twitter.
Allen’s career in Tuscaloosa was riddled with injuries, including multiple season-ending ailments. This past September, he didn’t even make it out of the first quarter of the season opener against Miami before seeing his season come to an end prematurely due to a foot injury.
When Alln was on the field, he was productive.
In 34 career games at Alabama, he put 61 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. In his lone healthy season as a starter, the 6-foot-4, 242-pound edge rusher played in 13 games and put up 41 tackles, 6 sacks and a team-leading 13 tackles for loss.
Here’s what NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein thinks about Allen:
Two injuries robbed Allen of valuable game experience and dulled some of his development. He’s a physical specimen with the strength to hold his own at the point and rid himself of single blocks with twitch and technique. However, he often seems lost in terms of play recognition and what he needs to do to get in on a play. He has some upfield rush charge but isn’t a natural bend-and-trim rusher, so building out a more thoughtful, diversified attack is a must. Allen has the traits to play edge in odd or even fronts but additional development is critical if he wants to become more than just a quality rotational defender.
Coming out of high school in 2019, Allen was a four-star prospect who was listed as the nation’s No. 130 overall player, No. 14 linebacker and No. 5 player from the state of Louisiana, according to the On3 Consensus rankings.
Hopefully, he’s able to stick around in Denver.
The Broncos signed former Cowboys pass-rusher Randy Gregory in free agency to pair with Bradley Chubb. Then, the team took Nik Bonito with its first pick of the draft (second round, No. 64 overall) as another pass-rushing option. Allen will have an uphill battle, but if he can stay healthy, he’s good enough to be a contributor.
Other NFL Draft Stories
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Texans draft Alabama WR John Metchie in the second round
Alabama DL Phidarian Mathis is a Commander, goes No. 47 overall
Alabama LB Christian Harris goes off the board in third round
Brian Robinson selected by Commanders in Round 3
Alabama football’s steals of the 2022 NFL Draft
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