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Denver Broncos have a big-time undrafted steal on their hands

By Sayre Bedinger

May 23, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Christopher Allen (45) during OTA workouts at the UC Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2022; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Christopher Allen (45) during OTA workouts at the UC Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Denver Broncos could have a big-time undrafted steal on their hands off the edge. The question is — will he be able to crack the roster?

Every year, players slip through the cracks in the NFL Draft that absolutely should not. The Denver Broncos are better at finding those guys than most NFL teams.

Look throughout the team’s history and you’ll see names like:

  • Rod Smith
  • Chris Harris Jr.
  • Shaquil Barrett
  • Phillip Lindsay

Not to mention many others.

The Denver Broncos have been a historic hotbed for undrafted free agents to find success, but do they have someone that can carry on the tradition in 2022?

They just might.

Christopher Allen has a chance to be Denver Broncos gem UDFA in 2022

The Denver Broncos have never given a bigger guarantee to any undrafted player in the team’s history after the NFL Draft than they did to Alabama pass rusher Christopher Allen.

Allen received $180,000 in total guarantees from the Broncos to sign in Denver after the NFL Draft, more money than they gave to sixth-round pick Matt Henningsen or seventh-round pick Faion Hicks.

That’s no small chunk of change, especially considering it’s also more guaranteed money than free agent signing Alex Singleton at the linebacker position.

Allen was the SEC’s tackles for loss leader in 2020 with 13, and showed off his potential as a pass rusher as well with six sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.

He was off to a hot start in the 2021 season before he got injured with three tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble against the Miami Hurricanes.

Allen has plenty of explosive traits, plenty of good tape out there, and obviously a hefty chunk of change in his pocket.

The question is — how does he fit in with the Denver Broncos’ edge group?

The Broncos are really deep off the edge starting with Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory, the two players expected to top the depth chart at that position group.

Behind those two guys, the Broncos have this year’s top pick Nik Bonitto off the edge as well as 2021 third-round pick Baron Browning transitioning to the edge.

They’ve also got Malik Reed and Jonathan Cooper, so where does Allen fit in?

There is undoubtedly going to be a lot of fun competition throughout the course of training camp and the preseason because the Denver Broncos have a bunch of athletic freaks coming off the edge.

As Allen works his way back to full health, he has a chance to be this year’s undrafted gem for general manager George Paton and the Denver Broncos.

The team obviously had a draftable grade on him but didn’t select him due to his recent injury.

There are trade candidates aplenty off the edge for the Denver Broncos and if Allen can find his way to the quarterback early and often when the pads come on, he has a shot to crack the rotation even as a rookie.

Even with a deep position group of players around him, Allen is the UDFA to watch in Denver heading into training camp 2022.

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