If the Denver Broncos are going to do what the experts think — add impact skill players on offense in free agency — then that opens them up to drafting a defensive player in the 1st round for the second consecutive season.

Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport predicts that player could be superstar University of Georgia inside linebacker CJ Allen if he drops to the Broncos with the No. 30 overall pick, calling Allen the “Dream Draft Target” for a team that already has one of the NFL’s elite defenses.

“After losing the AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots, the Broncos are looking to take that last next step in 2026,” Davenport wrote. “And while the team has a talented roster, there could be trouble brewing at linebacker …  Sometimes a player just fits. That’s the case with Allen and the Broncos.”

Drawing Comparisons to $31 Million NFL All-Pro

Allen, 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, was a High School All-American at Lamar County High in Barnesville, Georgia, and started all 3 seasons for the Bulldogs, earning SEC All-Freshman honors in 2023 and consecutive All-SEC selections in 2024 and 2025.

In his final season, Allen put together his most complete year with 88 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 4 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Allen to Indianapolis Colts NFL All-Pro linebacker Zaire Franklin in his pre-draft evaluation.

Franklin, a former 7th round pick, signed a 3-year, $31.26 million contract extension before the 2024 season.

“Team captain more capable of rowing the boat than making big splashes,” Zierlein wrote. “Allen plays with toughness and control, sorting through run fits with patience and leverage in pursuit. He has average trigger quickness and pursuit speed, which forces him to work harder to get to junction points when facing climbing blockers. He has adequate size and strength with good hand strikes to play off blocks. He doesn’t blow up blocks or disrupt on the other side of the line all that often, though. He’s an effective blitzer with average man-cover talent and is capable on all three downs. Allen is a dependable starting Mike ‘backer who raises the floor of a defense.”

Greenlaw Could Be Out After Disappointing Season

Greenlaw’s health was an issue beginning in the preseason, which he missed almost the entirety of with a mysterious injury issue, and also led to him missing 9 regular-seaosn games.

Even when he was healthy, Greenlaw couldn’t seem to get right, including serving a one-game suspension for a postgame confrontation with a game official.

With the Broncos still smarting from a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, Greenlaw’s underwhelming time with the Broncos could be coming to a quick end.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine put Greenlaw at the top of his list of possible salary cap casualties for the Broncos this offseason, and just one year after he signed a 3-year, $31.5 million contract.

The Broncos could save $6 million if they cut Greenlaw before June 1.