Undrafted free agent linebacker Christopher Allen from Alabama is a bit of an anomaly. According to some draft pundits, Allen should have been a Day 2 or 3 pick in the 2022 NFL draft if it were not for injuries that ended two seasons before they had the chance to begin.
Allen started three games for the Crimson Tide in 2017 when they won a national championship, often coming into games as a reserve. He finished that year with six total tackles and a forced fumble.
In 2018, he suffered a knee injury that cost him the season.
In 2019, Allen started five games, playing at some point in all 13 games. He recorded 11 tackles with 4.5 tackles for losses.
Allen’s best year came in 2020, when he started 11 games, totaling 37 tackles, six sacks, 13 tackles for loss and forcing two fumbles. In 2021, he broke his foot sacking Miami QB D’Eriq King in the first game of the season.
2020 provided a fantastic glimpse into what Allen could be as an NFL prospect. Injuries ended two inherently promising seasons for the Alabama rookie, who joins former teammates wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and cornerback Pat Surtain II in Denver.
Could Allen be the next undrafted free agent to join a Broncos roster? If he shows the same ability coming off of his broken foot, there is a good chance that he could become a vital contributor for Denver.