It’s that time of the year.
The season is over, we’re talking free agents, and the NFL Scouting Combine will be here in less than a week. That means it is time to start looking at some mock drafts and see who some of the experts have the Denver Broncos taking in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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NFL Network’s lead draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, released his mock draft 2.0 today and has the Broncos adding to their defense in the first round.
Jeremiah has the Broncos selecting Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen with their 30th overall selection in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Denver finds a replacement for Alex Singleton, who is ticketed for free agency. Allen is a steady, reliable player who can handle the nerve center of that talented defense.
Allen is a 6-1, 235-pound linebacker who is viewed as one of the top off-the-ball linebackers in this draft class. He’s a downhill and physical linebacker who has the ability to wear the green dot and be a three-down tackling machine for a defense.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein calls Allen a dependable starting linebacker who raises the floor of whichever defense ends up drafting him.
“Green dot” linebacker and team captain more capable of rowing the boat than making big splashes. Allen plays with toughness and control, sorting through run fits with patience and leverage in pursuit. He has average trigger quickness and pursuit speed, which forces him to work harder to get to junction points when facing climbing blockers. He has adequate size and strength with good hand strikes to play off blocks. He doesn’t blow up blocks or disrupt on the other side of the line all that often, though. He’s an effective blitzer with average man-cover talent and is capable on all three downs. Allen is a dependable starting Mike ‘backer who raises the floor of a defense.
As we know, the Broncos need some help at the linebacker position. Veteran team-captain Alex Singleton is a free agent, as is reserve/special teams ace Justin Strnad. Veteran Dre Greenlaw is a potential cut candidate and is coming off a year where he only played in 8 games for the Broncos. So, adding a young stud like Allen to the mix would make a lot of sense for the Broncos.
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Allen also fits the mold of the type of player the Broncos like. Was a team captain and leader at Georgia, good character, and would fit right in with the defense and the Broncos locker room.
