Case for C.J. Allen as the Bucs first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t have a long-term answer at middle linebacker, which is an issue in the heart of their defense, and that’s where Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen starts to make real sense as a first/second round option.

Allen is not a prospect built on splash plays or highlight production, but when you dig into his role and consistency, it becomes clear why he fits what Tampa Bay desperately needs in a future linebacker. In 2025, he led Georgia with 88 tackles, added 8 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles while consistently being around the football, being great in coverage, and finishing plays.

Across his career, he's shown steady growth, posting 76 tackles in 2024 and 41 as a freshman, while handling a full-time role in one of the most demanding defensive systems in college football.

What stands out is how controlled his game is from snap to snap, because he plays with patience against the run, keeps leverage when taking on blocks, and consistently finishes tackles without wasting movement. He also brings enough versatility to stay on the field, allowing 30 receptions on 44 targets in 2025 while limiting damage after the catch and adding four pass breakups, which shows he can hold up in coverage even if he is not a true playmaker in space.

The question with Allen comes down to range and ceiling, because he does not have elite sideline-to-sideline speed and is not going to consistently create explosive plays, but that does not take away from what he actually brings to a defense that needs stability more than it needs another developmental athlete.

When you look at the current linebacker room, the fit becomes even clearer: Tampa Bay has options but no long-term answer for communication and alignment in the middle of the defense. Allen projects as a true green dot linebacker who can step into that role immediately, allowing players like SirVocea Dennis to play faster while giving Alex Anzalone a more defined role, rather than asking him to carry the entire unit. Anzalone would handle the calls earlier in the season, with the hope that Allen would take over by the end of the season or at least by his second year.

Tampa Bay could target edge or corner in the first round and chase upside, but there is a real argument that the defense needs a stabilizer more than another high-variance piece, and Allen provides that with consistent production, reliable tackling, and the ability to keep the defense aligned on every snap.