The Indianapolis Colts have some clear holes on their roster, but many of these are on the defensive side. The team needs an edge rusher, and Indy also needs a good inside linebacker or two. That last part is seemingly not going to be fixed by Georgia Bulldogs player CJ Allen.
At least, not if Houston Texans expert Clayton Anderson is correct. In FanSided's recent draft big board, Allen is ranked as the 21st-best prospect overall, but is the Texans' second-highest-ranked realistic pick.
That might not be a huge issue in most cases, but the Texans have two picks before the Colts have their first in 2026. Currently, Houston sits at picks 28 and 38, while Indianapolis doesn't come in until No. 47.
Houston Texans might be a position to steal CJ Allen from the Indianapolis Colts
Anderson writes of Allen, "Being labeled as a 'green dot' linebacker who 'raises the floor of a defense,' Allen would be drafted at a time where starting Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is on the final year of a three-year contract, and fellow starter Henry To'oTo'o will be heading into the following offseason as a free agent. The First-Team All-American brings discipline and consistency to the position, with the potential to be a three-down linebacker at the NFL level."
That definitely sounds like someone Houston needs, but Indianapolis needs two of those players. Indy traded longtime starter Zaire Franklin this offseason, and fellow starter, at least in the last half of last season, Germaine Pratt, remains a free agent. The team did sign Akeem Davis-Gaither, but he has bounced around the last three years and can't seemingly hold on to his job.
As far as Allen still potentially being available close to when the Colts have their first pick, instead of going in the first round as some speculate, Dane Brugler of The Athletic (subscription required) recently mocked Allen not going until pick 62 to the Denver Broncos.
In other words, Allen might be around well into the second round, but there is also a good chance that the Texans snag Allen before Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard can choose him. Passing on Allen, if Houston and the rest of the league do before pick 47, would be a mistake by Ballard.
Sure, the team could use a high-end edge rusher, and one or three might still be on the board at 47, but CJ Allen would immediately fix the middle of the defense, and potentially become a long-term captain. He could also be used a bit more on inside blitzes than Franklin.
In 2024, Allen had 20 total pressures, and last year he had 13, four of which resulted in sacks. He is also an elite run-stopper with a high football IQ. He would be a fantastic pick for Ballard and would greatly improve Lou Anarumo's defense. That is, unless the Houston Texans snag him first, therefore forcing the Indianapolis Colts to play him twice a year for the foreseeable future.
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