Kaytron Allen Draft Grade | Round 6, Pick 6 | FanVerdicts

A+

Top 3%Pick Grade

Pick Context

Market Value

Steal

Position

RB · Discount Position

Decision Grade reflects market consensus at the moment of the pick. Teams often have private information the consensus does not.

Scouting Report

Big Board Rank: #130 · Day 3 Sleeper

Kaytron Allen enters the 2026 NFL Draft as a physical, between-the-tackles runner who established himself as Penn State's featured back over three productive seasons. The Virginia native transformed from a complementary back as a sophomore to the Nittany Lions' workhorse, showcasing impressive durability and north-south running ability in James Franklin's pro-style offense. Allen's draft stock has remained steady throughout the process, with teams valuing his contact balance, pass protection acumen, and high football IQ despite concerns about his breakaway speed and limited receiving versatility. His physical running style and mature approach to the game project well to an NFL backup role with potential special teams contributions.

Strengths

+Excellent contact balance allows him to consistently break arm tackles and fall forward for extra yardage, rarely going down on first contact from defensive backs or linebackers.

+Runs with controlled aggression between the tackles, showing good vision to identify running lanes and the patience to let blocks develop in gap and power schemes.

+Outstanding pass protection fundamentals with proper hand placement and leverage, demonstrating the awareness and technique to handle blitzing linebackers and defensive backs.

+High football IQ evident in pre-snap reads and adjustment ability, frequently audibling protection calls and identifying potential pressure points.

+Physical finish as a runner who consistently churns his legs through contact and drives defenders backward at the point of attack.

+Reliable hands on checkdowns and screen passes, though primarily utilized in short-area situations with good concentration in traffic.

+Impressive durability throughout college career, handling heavy workloads without significant injury concerns or performance decline late in seasons.

+Natural leadership qualities demonstrated through mentoring younger backs and taking ownership of offensive execution in critical situations.

+Good feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage when releasing from the backfield, showing awareness of linebacker drops and safety rotations.

+Solid kick coverage fundamentals with proper approach angles and willingness to engage blockers, projecting well to special teams contributions.

+Consistent ball security with minimal fumbling issues despite high touch totals and physical running style that invites contact.

Understands situational football concepts like clock management, down-and-distance awareness, and red zone execution with appropriate urgency and decision-making.

Weaknesses

-Limited breakaway speed prevents him from turning long gains into touchdowns, as he lacks the top-end gear to separate from pursuing defenders in the open field.

-Route-running precision needs refinement beyond basic checkdowns and screens, showing stiffness in his cuts and limited ability to create separation on intermediate patterns.

-Lateral agility is below-average for the position, struggling to make defenders miss in space and relying primarily on power rather than elusiveness.

-Lacks dynamic receiving ability that modern NFL offenses demand from running backs, with limited experience running routes from slot alignments or creating mismatches.

-Initial burst out of his stance is adequate but not explosive, sometimes allowing defensive linemen to disrupt him at the line of scrimmage on inside runs.

-Limited experience in shotgun-heavy spread concepts, having operated primarily from under-center formations which may require adjustment period in certain NFL systems.

-Pass-catching consistency drops off on patterns requiring precise timing and route adjustments, showing some tightness in his transitions and ball-tracking ability downfield.

-Ceiling appears capped due to physical limitations, projecting more as a reliable complementary back rather than a featured offensive weapon at the next level.

NFL Comparison: Damien Harris

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