2017 NFL Draft: Alabama Jonathan Allen Scouting Report

Alabama’s Jonathan Allen is a physically gifted defensive lineman capable of coming off the board early in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Jonathan Allen plays a violent brand of football that allows him to make plays all over the field. He was a standout performer despite being surrounded by tons of talent on Alabama’s defense. His playing time is expected to grow this year as he steps into the starting lineup.

Allen is a versatile defender who can support the run and generate pressure on the quarterback. A key to his success his is commitment to gaining inside hands. He features heavy hands with the power to control the action and quickly disengage.

Those hands also have violent and quick movements that allow Allen to employ a wide-array of pass rush moves.

As a pass rusher, Allen is at his best when he’s able to work along the interior. He does a great job using his hands to deliver a strong punch which knocks the blocker off balance. Allen features a good rip move that allows him to shoot past the blocker and create pressure.

This is someone who has surprising short-area quickness for someone with his size and bulk. Allen is able to get home and register the sack rather than just making the quarterback uncomfortable. His overall ability to generate pressure would improve with better snap awareness.

Too often, Allen is one of the last players out of his stance which puts him in poor position from time to time. He’s able to get away with this in college, but NFL offensive linemen are much better and will take advantage of his weakness.

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Allen’s ability to hold up against the run is ahead of his pass-rush skills at this stage in his career. He’s a naturally powerful athlete who anchors after contact and can quickly shed blocks. His short-area quickness allows him to make plays away from his frame.

One question surrounding Allen’s draft stock will be what position best fits his skill set. He would fit as a 5-technique in a 3-4 defense, but could also be a dynamic 3-technique. It’ll also be interesting to see if there’s a carryover effect from this 2016 draft which saw Alabama’s A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed fall to the second round.

Allen is more naturally explosive than those two, but there seems to be a little hesitation among NFL teams when drafting Alabama defensive linemen.

Current Draft Status: Mid to Late 1^st Round

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