The NY Jets might have a budding star on their hands in rookie running back Braelon Allen. At just 20 years old, Allen is not only the youngest player in the NFL but the youngest player to take the field in franchise history.
Allen stole the show in the summer at Jets training camp and has wasted little time proving that the offseason hype was for real. The Wisconsin product is currently Pro Football Focus's highest-graded running back in the entire NFL by rushing grade.
Allen's emergence has forced the Jets to rethink their backfield strategy, eating into Breece Hall's touches and giving the team an additional offensive playmaker to highlight. It's also left many wondering how in the world he fell as far as he did in the draft.
The Jets were able to land Allen with the 134th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the second-to-last selection in the fourth round. Allen has a theory as to why he slid down draft boards prior to the draft. He blames the NFL Combine, or the "underwear Olympics," as some have called the event.
Braelon Allen blames NFL Draft process for falling to NY Jets in April
"Everyone wanted to see me run in my underwear to decide if I was a good football player," Allen remarked on social media following another stellar performance on Thursday Night Football.
The rookie running back opted not to participate in the 40-yard dash, three-cone drills, and shuttle and tested poorly in the vertical and broad jump drills. His lackluster showing at the NFL Combine might have led to his draft-day slide.
Allen was seen by many as a potential Day 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, even if his stock had diminished in the years since his breakout freshman campaign at Wisconsin. It's safe to say many NFL teams already regret passing on him.
Allen is averaging an excellent 5.1 yards per carry on 19 attempts this season and ranks fifth in the NFL in average yards after contact per carry. He's also added value as a receiver, catching six passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Remember, Allen has played just three NFL games and doesn't turn 21 until the end of January. Yet it already seems clear that he would be a starting running back on a number of teams in the NFL.
The "Killer B's" duo of Hall and Allen has electrified the Jets' offense, giving the team over 150 scrimmage yards combined in Thursday's win over the New England Patriots. The Jets might have a claim to the best backfield tandem in the NFL before long.
Fans of running-back-need teams (looking at you, Cowboys) around the league continue to scratch their heads as to why their favorite team passed on taking Allen in any of the first four rounds of the draft.
The Jets may have landed the steal of the entire 2024 NFL Draft. If only he was a little better "running around in his underwear" at the Combine...
