The New England Patriots made significant renovations to their defense this offseason. Mike Vrabel has permanently assigned Zak Kuhr to the defensive coordinator role, and they'll now look to continue to build their defense, parting ways with several inherited players.
This offseason, the team released Anfernee Jennings and Jahlani Tavai and traded Marte Mapu. They let Jaylinn Hawkins, Alex Austin, and Miles Battle all walk, each of whom had a big role in the previous regime.
They additionally allowed both K'Lavon Chaisson and Jack Gibbens to walk, who Vrabel brought in on one-year deals last offseason.
New England ran a two-linebacker system with Gibbens as the third piece, but Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss were the position's core last season, playing 73% and 50% of defensive snaps, respectively.
While I'd expect that trend to remain the same in 2026, New England lost their depth at the position. Gibbens, Tavai, and Mapu are all no longer with the team, leaving special teamers K.J. Britt and Chad Muma, as well as practice squaders Amari Gainer and Otis Reese IV, the only options as depth.
To solve that issue, Mark Daniels of MassLive has the Patriots selecting Georgia's C.J. Allen in the first round to solidify the second level of their defense for years to come.
C.J. Allen could be an excellent pick for the Patriots in the first round
The Patriots' linebacker position lacks depth at the moment. As mentioned, there isn't much beyond Spillane and Elliss, and while there are players with potential to make an impact, to rely on them would be foolish.
Daniels suggests New England solve their linebacker issues for the long haul with the selection of Georgia's C.J. Allen, who is widely regarded as the second-best player at his position behind Ohio State's Sonny Styles.
Allen has played over 550 snaps each of the last two seasons and sported impressive stats against the run this year. Aside from an 88.8 PFF run defense grade, he has a sub-8% missed tackle rate with 25 run stops. In pass coverage, opposing quarterbacks were 30/44 (68.2%) when targeting him, and he defended 3 passes while having 14 coverage stops.
Allen is a legitimate first-round linebacker prospect, and given his SEC pedigree, he'd no doubt be a solid pick for the Patriots, despite linebacker not appearing to be a massive need on the surface.
Linebacker is a long-term need for the Patriots defense
Allen would contribute immediately, but he'd also be a contributor for years to come. Spillane is an excellent player, but he turns 31 during the season and missed significant time with a foot injury in the latter half of the regular season.
Elliss has yet to put together a full season of solid linebacker play in his career. He struggled immensely during the first month and a half, but by the playoffs, he was a reliable starter. Nonetheless, he's set to be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, and he'd likely see a pay bump from his current $6.8 million per year.
Whether Vrabel is willing to pay an inherited 28-year-old upwards of $9 million per season next offseason will remain to be seen, but replacing him with a cheaper and better player in Allen might be the best method of replacing Elliss.
Admittedly, the top-end talent New England has at linebacker isn't a problem. Additionally, special teamers Britt and Muma have the traits to be solid third linebackers to replace Gibbens, though their ascension isn't a given.
If Allen is on the board at No. 31, New England has the opportunity to land a top talent with experience, athleticism, and the intangibles that come with being a Georgia captain.
If Vrabel and company were to draft Allen in the first round, it would be the first time New England drafts a stand-up linebacker in the top 100 since Jamie Collins from Southern Miss in 2013, and the first time they would do so in the first round since Alabama's Dont'a Hightower in 2012. Time will tell, but Allen could be a trend breaker.