Undrafted free brokers are sometimes an extended shot to make an NFL roster. Nevertheless, for the Denver Broncos, it hasn’t been uncommon to see such gamers not solely make the roster however turn out to be main contributors.
Chris Harris, Jr., C.J. Anderson, Shaquil Barrett, Phillip Lindsay, and Alexander Johnson are among the many UDFAs in latest seasons who not solely made the workforce’s 53-man roster out of coaching camp, but additionally emerged into main contributors at one level or one other. 4 of these 5 gamers have gone on to earn Professional Bowl accolades, although Barrett’s got here in Tampa Bay.
So it is no shock that Broncos followers will regulate this yr’s crop of undrafted gamers and marvel who may make the ultimate roster and make an impression.
Soccer Outsiders‘ Mike Tanier has one title for Broncos followers to contemplate: edge rusher Christopher Allen. Tanier, within the FO sequence 4 Downs, cited Allen because the Broncos’ most notable undrafted free agent and, probably, anyone who may also help the Broncos’ move rush.
Christopher Allen recorded six sacks and 13 tackles for a loss for Alabama in 2020, however he missed practically all of final yr with a foot harm and all of 2018 with a knee harm. The well being considerations are apparent, however Allen can each rush the passer and play in area, and he opened the 2021 season as a starter for the Crimson Tide. Getting a linebacker from the Alabama pipeline for merely a telephone name and a $30,000 signing bonus is rarely a nasty factor.
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Which will have been Allen’s signing bonus however studies point out the Broncos gave him $180,000 in ensures. He does have the flexibility to hurry the passer and play in area, as Tanier notes — and that might be a great factor for the Broncos.
CBS Sports activities’ draft profile for Allen initiatives him to be a job participant, or depth, and notes that he has “restricted sack potential as a result of he was too reliant on common power and leverage.” Nevertheless, the identical profile goes on to say that Allen has a muscular construct and the “versatility to play hand within the grime or arise and cloud protection.”
Allen’s school teammate at Alabama, Patrick Surtain II, would concur.
“He is very dynamic, he is an incredible rusher—you can even drop him in move units, too,” Surtain stated final week. “So he is an incredible, dynamic participant that brings super expertise to the defensive facet of the ball.”
Very first thing’s first, although: Allen has to get wholesome.
“We’re going to play that by ear,” Hackett stated on Might 14. “We’re going to see how he comes alongside. He’s a really proficient athlete, a very good individual. For us, it’s about getting him wholesome and getting him proper first, then as we transfer ahead we’ll have the ability to see the place he matches. He has a number of stuff that he has to supply this workforce, and we simply need to get him on the market so we are able to consider it.”
It is doable Allen may spend his first season on the apply squad, however his versatility may give him a shot at being a backup edge rusher for 2022. And given the problems the Broncos have had with edge rushers lacking time with accidents, having depth is an effective factor.
We’ll see what Allen can convey to the desk because the offseason progresses and when coaching camp will get underway later this summer time.
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