New York Jets running back Braelon Allen is ready to burst on the scene in 2025.
Well, that’s what Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus argued in a recent column. He was tasked with putting together the “2025 NFL All-Breakout Team: Predicting football’s new top players at every position.”
He got to pick one or two players, depending on the position, who would break out this season. At running back, he only got one name to pick, and he chose Allen.
“Bucky Irving set the world ablaze in his rookie season, but Allen quietly put together a strong first campaign of his own. The former Wisconsin star generated an 82.0 PFF rushing grade and a 73.6 overall PFF grade in 2024,” Locker explained.
“Allen remains the backup to Breece Hall in New York, but Hall’s production declined in a big way last year, with only a 68.7 PFF rushing grade. If Allen can improve his pass-catching abilities (50.3 PFF receiving grade) and blocking prowess (52.7 PFF pass-blocking grade), he could emerge as more of an every-down back for the Jets,” Locker said. “After all, new OC Tanner Engstrand comes from a Detroit Lions team that gave Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each over 190 carries in 2024.”
The Ex-Badgers Standout Has More to Him Than Meets the Eye
The former Wisconsin product appeared in all 17 games during his rookie season and made two starts.
He toted the rock 92 times for 334 rushing yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. Allen is listed at 6-foot-1 and tipped the scales at 235 pounds on the Jets’ official roster sheet. Coming out of college, he earned the brusier label for his physicality and was expected to be a short-yardage contributor.
Where he surprised the Jets was in the passing game. Coming out of college , Allen only had 49 career receptions at Wisconsin. However, he showed a hidden ability at the NFL level.
Allen finished his rookie campaign with 19 receptions for 148 receiving yards and a touchdown. He averaged 7.8 yards per reception. He had 49 catches across three collegiate seasons. In his first season in the NFL, he already achieved 39% of the production as a rotational player that he did full-time in college.
TD for rookie @BraelonAllen !! 💨💨💨
📺 #NYJvsTEN on CBS & @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/A7Y4rgCdnL
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 15, 2024
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That reveals some serious untapped potential beneath the surface. Allen, 21, has three years remaining on his $4.5 million rookie contract.
Allen Will Have Opportunities on the Jets in 2025
Throughout the offseason, head coach Aaron Glenn has said that he plans on using all three running backs on the roster. That list includes Allen, Isaiah Davis , and starter Breece Hall.
Hall is the man and has been the lead bellcow throughout his tenure with the Jets. However, he is entering a contract year in 2025 and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
PFF argued that Allen could steal away the job from Hall this season by taking another leap. The good news for the Jets is that Allen is not only talented, but he is still incredibly young.
“At only 20 years old, Fond du Lac’s latest hometown hero, Braelon Allen, made NFL history last night as the youngest player in the Super Bowl era (1966-67) to gain a yard,” Yahoo Sports revealed last season.
If he is this good already in limited action, just imagine what Allen could transform into with some good coaching and opportunity. The sky is the limit.
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