2024 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Braelon Allen, RB Wisconsin
We’re nearly a month away from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. I’ve always considered Conference Championship weekend and the end of January the official start of draft season.
Shrine Bowl practices have begun, Senior Bowl players arrive this weekend, and the combine creeps closer.
One of those participants is our featured prospect, who continues our rookie early look series. Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen is one of the more intriguing draft studies in this class. Some analysts are extremely high, while others are proceeding with caution.
Let’s dive in and take a closer look at his pre-draft profile.
Recruitment
Allen ranked as a four-star recruit by 247 Sports in the 2021 class. He was a hometown kid from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin and stayed at home to play for the Badgers.
As you can see above, Allen was originally recruited as a linebacker and switched to running back. He was not a high recruit ranking as the number 45 linebacker in the country, but ranked number three in the state and enrolled early. Allen arrived on campus with a slight, lanky frame at 6 foot 2, 215 pounds and now leaves for the NFL at a chiseled 245 pounds,
Courtesy of 247 Sports.
Collegiate Career
Courtesy of Sports Reference.
Allen burst onto the college football scene in his true freshman year in 2021, winning the running back job. He started in all 12 games for the Badgers and rushed for over 1,200 yards with double-digit touchdowns (12). Allen followed that up his sophomore season with another 1000-yard season with 1.242 yards and 11 touchdowns. He capped off 2023 with 984 yards and was able to find the end zone 12 times.
Allen’s production at Wisconsin and his knack for touchdowns is what really stands out. Despite what may have been a down season, his talent still generated double-digit touchdowns to cap off his college career. No matter the case or debate about where Allen ranks amongst the group of running backs in this class, his talent and college production – especially in the Big Ten – will get the attention of coaches and personnel decision-makers.
Strengths
- Big frame and size, listed 6 foot 2 and 245 pounds
- Runs hard and with power
- North/South runner. Can make one cut and get upfield quickly
- Tempos his running with good vision and patience
- He is hard to bring down at second and third levels with his size and power to run through tackles
- Very good pass protector
Weaknesses
- Lacks twitch and sudden quickness in space
- Not a burner. Lacks long speed to hit home runs. Excels at picking up chunk yards
- Will be a scheme fit in NFL. Fits best in a power-run offense that can open vertical lanes
Draft Value
Courtesy of NFL Mock Draft Database.
There’s been quite a bit of variance in Allen’s draft positioning, specifically where and when he will be selected come April.
If you were to compare his overall rank using the chart above, it would fall between a late first and late third. Allen is a projected third-round pick, but I think he’s more likely to come off the board around the mid to late second round, or top of the third at the latest. I think it will really all come down to two things:
1) How do teams value him?
2) Do we wait for the run to come on running backs or be proactive and take him because he’s “our guy”?
Allen’s ceiling is a long-term starter in the NFL, but he will need to land in a great situation and the right fit. The imposing size alone, along with a talented thumper being able to wear opposing defenses down, could give a coaching staff some Derrick Henry or Marshawn Lynch vibes.
Dynasty Outlook
The market appears to be rather high on Allen. He is currently going as the RB1 of this class and the 2.01 in superflex rookie ADP.
I am not sure why.
Don’t get me wrong, there is very much to like about Allen due to his size, power, and overall production. But in a way, that size and power works against him in the sense that I think he is very scheme-dependent. He doesn’t have the sudden quickness and quick twitch like one of his peers in Blake Corum nor the receiving skills as Trey Benson – two guys who are going after Allen in the second round of rookie drafts.
Courtesy of DLF Superflex Rookie Rankings.
Until we have more information, I think Allen is rather overhyped and over-ranked by the dynasty community. The talent is intriguing, but he will need to land in the right situation in order to have immediate success. As of now, I’d rather look to consider moving down in the second round into that Benson-Corum tier and picking up an extra pick, depreciated veteran, or young player with nice upside.
