The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.
If the Green Bay Packers don’t re-sign AJ Dillon, they’ll have to find a new running mate for Aaron Jones.
A running back that Brian Gutekunst could target to replace Dillon in the 2024 NFL Draft is Braelon Allen. The Wisconsin running back checks in at No. 74 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A Wisconsin native, Allen made a name for himself right out of the gates as a Badger, rushing for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021. During the 2022 campaign, Allen rushed for 1,242 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In 11 games this past season, Allen rushed for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 28 receptions for 132 yards.
“It may sound cliché, but he was the heartbeat of the team,” Christian Borman, a contributor for Badgernotes.com, said. “The offense ran through him in 2022. Then, instead of bolting to the transfer portal after they made the coaching change, he stayed. I think a lot of players and fans respected that.”
Allen is built like a tank. It will be interesting to see his official weight when he weighs in at the NFL Scouting Combine. While he’s not the most explosive back, he’s a powerful, strapping runner who could be a perfect complementary piece to Jones.
“He was a physical freak coming out of high school,” Borman said. “He was able to re-classify a year earlier and contributed to the program as a true freshman at 17 years old because he was physically able to. You can see it in his running style. He can run through arm tackles with ease and it often takes multiple players to take him down.”
Allen shreds arm tackles and keeps his feet driving at contact. When he reaches the second level he looks to punish second-level defenders. He’s able to pinball off defenders and racked up 682 yards after contact this season and 2,182 yards after contact for his career. He makes it a chore for defenders to get him down. He typically finishes forward.
“I think for a guy his size, you’d expect him to be able to run through opponents, but his balance jumps out at you,” Borman said. “He can run through you or bounce off of you. He’s never going to be the fastest guy on the field, but he makes up for it with his strength.”
During his first two seasons as a Badger, Allen accounted for 21 receptions. This past season, in a new offensive system, Allen hauled in 28 receptions. He shows soft hands and was charged with just one drop on 30 targets this past season.
He’ll likely never be a featured receiving back, but he’s a serviceable check down back.
“I think this is a similar case to Jonathan Taylor when he was entering his final year at Wisconsin,” Borman said. “He was primarily a running threat and not featured often in the passing attack. I think Paul Chryst tried to get Taylor more involved in the passing game because he was a threat with the ball in his hands and to potentially showcase his pass-catching ability for the next level. Allen’s situation is different because the Badgers transitioned from a pro-style offense he spent his first two seasons in, to an air raid offense under Phil Longo. In Longo’s scheme, you have to be able to throw the ball back in check-down situations. I think that’s the biggest reason you saw the bump in his receptions this year compared to his previous two. I think he is still going to be a work in progress as a pass-catcher in the NFL. I don’t want to make the comp just because of size, but I think he could be like AJ Dillon. Serviceable as a pass-catcher, but he’s probably not going to be a guy teams have to focus on stopping in the passing game.”
Fit with the Packers
Jones is set to turn 30 in December and currently has one year left on his contract. The Packers need to find a way to extend his career and adding a back like Allen that could help take the load off could go a long way in helping Jones fresh.
Allen has the size and strength to be the perfect complementary piece to Jones. When the New York Giants had Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne they called that duo Thunder and Lightning. The pairing of Jones and Allen could be Green Bay’s version of Thunder and Lightning.
“I think he could be a featured back for a team in the NFL, but I think he would work well as a part of a one-two punch with another back that compliments his playing style, similarly to Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon,” Borman said. “I think he’d be a solid mid-round pick to pair with another back on my team.”
Allen comes with obvious risks. He has 597 carries to his name and he’s not the most dynamic of backs. On top of that, he doesn’t offer a ton in terms of pass-catching ability out of the backfield.
On the flip side, Allen is a powerful runner who just turned 20 years old in January. His best football could be ahead of him.
Depending on what happens with Dillon, the Packers will need to find Jones a new running mate and potentially start thinking about life after Jones.
Allen isn’t a home run hitter, but he’ll keep coming to the plate and delivering singles and doubles. That wears on a defense. Adding him on Day 3 to pair with Jones seems like a match made in Wisconsin.
“I know running backs are seemingly a dime a dozen in the NFL, but young, productive running backs are always valuable,” Borman said. “He’s a young and physical back who just turned 20 years old in January. He’s a work in progress in pass-catching and pass protection, but that can be taught. You can’t teach his strength.”