The Chargers get themselves a future impact player at off-ball linebacker in this 2026 NFL mock draft by selecting Georgia’s C.J. Allen.
So far in these early 2026 mock drafts, the Chargers have been often paired with edge rushers with the idea that this upcoming season will be the last for Khalil Mack in the powder blue.
But in a new 2026 mock by ESPN’s Matt Miller, he has the Bolts going in a different direction on defense. With the 26th overall pick in his exercise, the Chargers selected Georgia off-ball linebacker C.J. Allen to help reinforce a position group that already has a young nucleus, but will likely lose veteran Denzel Perryman after the 2025 season.
Here’s what Miller had to say about this pairing:
“Sometimes when you’re watching film, a player jumps out as a perfect fit for an NFL scheme or coach. That’s what Allen is with Jim Harbaugh, as the 6-foot-1, 235-pounder fits the mold of linebackers that Harbaugh had with the 49ers and what he recruited at Michigan. Allen crashes rushing lanes with power while showing the agility to excel in pass coverage. He’s protected by Georgia’s top-tier defensive line, but Allen’s read-and-react ability makes him a good bet to be an immediate NFL starter.”
The Chargers used a third-round pick in last year’s draft on former Michigan linebacker Junior Colson, one of the Wolverines’ best players and an easy pairing with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Unfortunately Colson never really got rolling as a rookie due to a bad stretch of injuries that got started in the offseason and followed him through chunks of the regular season.
Until Colson breaks out and wins a starting job outright, it’ll be tough to think of him as long-term starter next to Daiyan Henley. That’s likely why Miller felt compelled to have the Chargers draft another off-ball linebacker just two years after adding Colson to make sure such an important position in Minter’s offense is not left too shallow in the coming years.
CJ Allen LB, UGA. An athletic sideline to sideline player, he shows nice speed, range, instincts and tkling. He does well diagnosing plays, showing off a quick trigger and deciphering through the traffic, utilizing his speed, IQ and bringing the physicality. #StarWatch pic.twitter.com/VNJsDJiU1t
— ✭Mend⎊za (@ohmyword88) July 1, 2025
Allen posted 76 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and four passes defended during the 2024 season. The one thing about Georgia defenders and their stats is that they aren’t ever all that impressive due to the sheer amount of talent they rotate through the entire lineup. Their edge rushers are don’t often have double-digit sacks and their linebackers aren’t often hitting 100 total tackles. Still, scouts know what they’re looking at and the same seems to be happening with Allen. His explosive athleticism and sideline-to-sideline ability is apparent on film and that’s why he could end up pushing for LB1 honors in the 2026 class.