CJ Allen #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs is being connected to the Dallas Cowboys.
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CJ Allen #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs is being connected to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys did not send a horde of coaches and scouts to watch Georgia linebacker CJ Allen’s pro day on Wednesday, but they were on site and really, being there probably was not going to matter much. Last month, after all, the Cowboys hired 33-year-old linebackers coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe from the Bulldogs’ staff, which means there will be no NFL teams with as much insight into Allen and what makes him tick than the Cowboys. Uzo-Diribe, who was at the workout, was on the Georgia staff for all three of Allen’s seasons in Athens.
Increasingly, as the NFL’s draft board as begun to firm up, Allen looks like a real possibility for the Cowboys as a first-round pick, and as the free-agency process has unfolded, Dallas has found itself in need of a a top-shelf linebacker. It’s probably not a job the team would like to give to a rookie, but as things stand, there are not many choices afoot.
Allen has a sparkling reputation as a leader, and was named to the AP, The Athletic, FWAA and On3 All-America first teams at Georgia. NFL.com’s scouting report notes that he is a “green dot” linebacker coming into the league.
Both Ohio State’s Arvell Reese (who says he will be an edge in the NFL) and Sonny Styles will likely be gone when the Cowboys’ first pick arrives at No. 12. Allen, though, could be around when the Cowboys pick again at No. 20, and increasingly, there is buzz he could the target.
‘Cowboys Heavily Talking to CJ Allen’
As one reporter noted, “Should be no surprise to anyone but sources at UGA Pro Day tell me the#Cowboys are heavily talking to CJ Allen,” a mention that was retweeted with a post from Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News, who wrote an article for the paper last month that was titled, “Why Georgia’s C.J. Allen is an example of what the Cowboys might want in a linebacker.”
And, indeed, Allen was impressive on Wednesday. Rusty Mansell of the Dawgs HQ site, wrote on Twitter/X, “Makes it look easy, NFL coach told me last night … ‘He blew away his interview with us. He knew as much as our linebacker coach..’ CJ Allen at UGA Pro-Day.”
CJ Allen Coming off Knee Surgery
For the Cowboys, the one issue that did arise with Allen on Wednesday is that he did not run the 40-yard dash. ESPN’s Jordan Reid explained, “#Georgia LB CJ Allen only participated in positional drills today at Pro Day. He did not participate in testing because of swelling in his knee, per sources. During the season, Allen had a minor procedure for a meniscus tear that he suffered in mid-November. Scouts were complimentary of his drill work.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said–and the roster construction makes this obvious– that there will be no “redshirt years” for rookies next season, a meaningful statement for a team that often likes to gamble the value that can be gleaned from taking injured players in the draft.
Meniscus surgery is not a difficult recovery, typically, but as Maxx Crosby can attest, it could affect how teams view a player’s medicals.
Cowboys Should ‘Double Dip’ on Defense
But Allen to the Cowboys makes sense, even if the team does finally sign a veteran (Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David) or trade for one (Patrick Queen, Jordyn Brooks) to fill the role. Linebacker has been a year-in, year-out difficulty for the team.
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, in his latest mock draft, does have Allen going to Dallas.
Wrote Kiper: “It’d be wise for the Cowboys to double-dip on defense (Jermod McCoy at No. 12). They gave up 6.1 yards per play in 2025, 31st in the NFL and third worst for any team in any of the past five seasons. Allen can play all three downs, as he can drop in coverage, run down ball carriers and even blitz. He had 97 tackles last season for the Bulldogs, showcasing tremendous read-and-react skills.”