NY Jets draft perfect RB complement to Breece Hall in Braelon Allen

The NY Jets continue to add pieces to their new-look offense, selecting Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen with the 134th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Allen fills an immediate need and is a perfect fit in the Jets' backfield.

The Jets have been flirting with the free-agent running back market this offseason as they search for a backfield-mate for Breece Hall. Allen fills that role as a perfect complement to Hall and Israel Abanikanda.

At 6-foot-1, 236 pounds, Allen is a powerful, bruising running back who, at just 20 years old, is the youngest player in the entire 2024 draft class. He won't turn 21 until next January.

Allen started three years at Wisconsin, racking up nearly 3,500 yards en route to multiple All-Big Ten selections and a Freshman All-American selection in 2021. At just 17 years old, Allen led Wisconsin in rushing with 1,268 yards and 6.4 yards per carry as a freshman.

Braelon Allen is a perfect fit alongside Breece Hall in the NY Jets' backfield

The Jets entered the offseason with a pretty under-the-radar need for a short-yardage back who can excel in between the tackles. Neither Hall nor Abanikanda particularly shines in short-yardage/goal-line situations.

Allen gives the Jets exactly what they were looking for. Allen doubles as an effective and efficient short-yardage runner who also provides value on third down as one of the better pass blockers in this class.

That alone should give him the edge over Abanikanda for the RB2 job, as the Jets didn't seem to trust the former Pittsburgh product in that area last season. Allen is a much better fit alongside Hall than Abanikanda is.

General manager Joe Douglas has now drafted a running back in every single year he's been with the organization, with everyone except Hall coming in the fourth or fifth round. Allen has a chance to be the best of all of those mid-round running backs.

The Jets are incredibly high on Allen's upside given his age, and he has a chance to earn a prominent role right away as the team's primary RB2 behind Hall.

After trading down multiple times in the fourth round, the Jets finally come away with another offensive building block. The Jets continue to get better on that side of the ball.

Grade: B+