Braelon Allen hopes to win Jets No. 2 RB job

The Jets took Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen in Round 4 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Allen is the youngest player in this entire draft class, turning just 20 back in January. He exploded as a 17-year-old true freshman in 2021, running for 1,268 yards and 12 TDs on 6.8 yards per carry. But by most measures, that was his best season at Wisconsin. Allen topped 1,200 rushing yards again in 2022, but his yards per carry, yards after contact per carry, and missed tackles forced per attempt all sunk from the previous season. Then his usage and production took a hit in a pass-heavier Wisconsin offense last year. Allen carried 181 times for 984 yards (5.4 YPC) and 12 TDs. He at least rebounded in yards after contact per attempt, ranking 29th among 157 qualifiers. But Allen ranked just 97th among those 157 RBs with a career-worst 78.6 Pro Football Focus rushing grade. The burly 6’1, 235-pounder runs with good vision and has better long speed than you’d expect. But he doesn’t always play to his size and doesn’t possess much wiggle. It’s also worth noting that Allen suffered shoulder, right leg, and left ankle injuries, plus a concussion, during his three years at Wisconsin. Allen joins a Jets backfield that will be dominated by Breece Hall for the foreseeable future. The rookie will duke it out with 2023 fifth-round pick Israel Abanikanda for scraps.