The Dallas Cowboys whiffed on the linebacker market in free agency, missing on players like Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean, and Quay Walker.
With several linebackers leaving the roster (Kenneth Murray, Logan Wilson, Jack Sanborn), the Cowboys are in desperate need of at least one three-down linebacker. And at this point, the best way to find such a player will be early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
There was one point this offseason where Sonny Styles (Ohio State) was the consensus pick at No. 12, but after dominating the NFL Combine, he rarely gets out of the top-seven selections.
Dallas might need to pivot in Round 1, and one target could be CJ Allen from Georgia. How might he fit with the Dallas Cowboys? Here is our scouting report on the former SEC star:
CJ Allen 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6006
Weight: 230 pounds
40 Yard Dash Time: Did Not Run At NFL Combine
Recruiting: 4-star recruit, No. 73 nationally, No. 4 ranked linebacker
College Production: 41 games, 205 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception.
Positives:
- Very reliable tackler who missed just 20 tackles in 1,600 snaps at Georgia (via PFF)
- Elite run defender. Back-to-back seasons with a grade of 88.5+ run defense grade via Pro Football Focus.
- Packs some power when tackling. Doesn’t allow much after contact despite shorter frame.
- Doesn’t have elite speed, but plays under control and doesn’t overrun plays very often.
- Can outmuscle and overwhelm players who are much bigger than him. Isn’t afraid to throw his body around.
- Makes very few mistakes in the run game. Always seems to be in the right place and maintains gap integrity.
- Does have a knack for seeing plays develop before they happen. Instincts are above average for the position.
- Three years of starting experience (became a full-time starter in Week 11 of the 2023 season). Only 21 years old.
Allen is an old-school linebacker in a new-age body. He doesn’t have the size of a traditional downhill linebacker, but he plays with speed, power, and violence. He was the signal-caller for Georgia’s defense and got everyone lined up in the right spot. Teams that value toughness and smart linebacker play over elite coverage athletes will love Allen early in the draft.
Negatives:
- Does not have the size for a linebacker with his play style. Could get overwhelmed by bigger blockers and runners at the next level.
- Below-average length with just 31 3/8” arms. Will have a hard time disengaging from blockers at the next level.
- He looked noticeably slower on tape in 2025 than he did in 2024. Is he already showing signs of wearing down?
- Does not have the speed or length to match up in man-to-man coverage.
- Gets lost in zone coverage more often than not. Doesn’t show much of a “feel” for knowing where receivers are behind him.
- Not much of a playmaker. Only one interception despite over 700 career snaps in coverage.
- Doesn’t have a great feel as a blitzer. No pass rush plan and relies on his physicality to overwhelm blockers.
This is what makes linebacker projections so hard. Allen was an elite run defender at Georgia, but will his physical limitations cause him to be a much lesser player in the NFL?
The hope is that he can dramatically improve in coverage, as he is only 21, but it will be a big weakness for him coming into the league. And the fact that he just didn’t make a bunch of high-value plays (sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles) in college is a bit concerning as he makes the jump to the NFL.
CJ Allen NFL Player Comparison: Dre Greenlaw
Before all of the injuries, Greenlaw was one of the best linebackers in the NFL, especially when it came to stopping the run. Greenlaw benefited from playing alongside Fred Warner, who was and is the best coverage linebacker in the NFL. But Greenlaw’s physicality and tenacity is what made those 49ers’ defenses so much fun to watch.
CJ Allen Fit With The Dallas Cowboys:
The Cowboys need a linebacker who can take on guards in the run game and be a reliable tackler in the middle of the field. The hope is that DeMarvion Overshown can handle most of the passing-down work and that Allen can continue to be the downhill thumper that we saw at Georgia.
It’s been a while since the Cowboys have had a linebacker like this on their roster, and it would be so much fun to see a player with his skillset in Dallas.
CJ Allen NFL Draft Grade: Round 2
There is a lot to like about Allen’s game, and there just aren’t many linebackers of his type around anymore. The violence in his game is fun to watch, and he is legitimately great at stopping the run. Unfortunately, his lack of size and length, combined with some of his coverage woes, could make him a liability at the next level.
Allen will need to dramatically improve in zone coverage to stay on the field. But even then, the lack of playmaking and athleticism could really hurt his value. Allen projects as a good starter at the next level, but not a player who deserves to be taken with a premium pick, as his skill set is easier to find.