Austin

Allen

The Giants signed Allen as a UDFA this spring. It’s a strange move for a team that recently lost Ricky Seals-Jones to a season-ending injury. Allen supposedly got some first-team reps in minicamp, but that quickly fizzled out with fellow rookie Daniel Bellinger stepping up as the starter. The Nebraska alum won Big Ten tight end of the year on the heels of a 38/602/2 line in 2021, so the offseason hype had some backing to it. Allen could return to New York on the team’s practice squad once he clears waivers.

The undrafted rookie has been one of the standouts of Giants’ OTAs, repping with the starters in a rotation with Seals-Jones. Playing ahead of fourth-round TE Daniel Bellinger comes as a surprise, though Allen had a better 2021, posting a 38/602/2 line while winning Big Ten tight end of the year. New York released Kyle Rudolph and Kaden Smith this offseason and let Evan Engram walk in free agency. The 6-foot-8 Allen could force his way into a committee if he makes the final roster.

After a quiet start to his career, Allen (6'7/253) emerged in 2021, catching 38 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns, earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition, and winning the Kwalick–Clark award as the Big Ten tight end of the year. He followed up his breakout by running a 4.83 40 at the Combine with a 34-inch vertical and 10-foot-1 broad jump. Allen is slow-footed and unlikely to ever develop into a sharp route runner, but he is a massive target who has the ball skills to win in contested situations and up the seam. Those skills could earn him touchdown-dependent fantasy value.