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NY Jets rookie RB makes bold promise to Aaron Rodgers

Braelon Allen wants Aaron Rodgers to play '10 more years'
Justin Fried
Justin Fried

The Jet Press

Braelon Allen / Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The NY Jets have made it clear that their top priority this offseason was to make Aaron Rodgers' life easier. That includes both adding new weapons for him as well as finding better ways to protect their star quarterback.

Rookie running back Braelon Allen is hoping he can do both.

The former Wisconsin standout was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Jets this past Saturday and is expected to compete with Israel Abanikanda and fellow rookie Isaiah Davis for reps behind Breece Hall.

One aspect of Allen's game that could give him an edge is his pass blocking. Allen, while still a little unrefined, has proven to be a very willing and capable blocker. His 6-foot-1, 235-pound frame certainly helps with that.

Allen took to social media on Sunday to send a message to his new quarterback. He hopes to extend Rodgers' career as long as possible.

Braelon Allen hopes Aaron Rodgers can play 10 more years

Allen responded to a clip of himself absolutely leveling a defender in pass protection with a caption that read "Ima make sure A-Rod can play 10 more years." While that might be a bold claim, it's the thought that counts here.

Allen clearly feels very comfortable in pass protection, something that should allow him to see the field early as a rookie. Pass blocking isn't necessarily a strength of Breece Hall, and the Jets didn't trust Abanikanda in pass protection as a rookie.

That said, Allen's pass-blocking numbers are a little shaky from his time at Wisconsin. The 20-year-old allowed 15 pressures on 90 pass-block snaps for a pressure rate of over 16 percent. That's not very good.

A quick glimpse at Allen's tape shows that while he has flashes of brilliance as a pass blocker, he remains inconsistent with his overall technique. That's something that could be improved at the NFL level, however.

Allen's large frame and aggressive mindset give him a high potential to be a really good pass-blocking running back. That could help him fill an important role in the Jets' offense.

Of course, expecting Rodgers to play another 10 years might be a little wishful thinking, but Allen's message is one the Jets certainly co-sign. He's here to make Rodgers' life easier in whatever way possible.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.