Mock Draft season is finally here, and it’s a big deal for the entire football landscape. The Georgia Bulldogs will lose another handful of top contributors to the NFL Draft. Perhaps the biggest name, and Georgia’s only mocked first-rounder, CJ Allen, is predicted to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Lavonte David’s potential replacement.
Lavonte David is a free agent in the coming days and has yet to decide if he will return for his 15th NFL season. David has become a fan-favorite for the Bucs, but time is undefeated, and the 36-year-old Pro Bowl linebacker may want to venture into retirement rather than endure another full NFL season.
According to Mel Kiper’s first NFL Mock Draft ahead of the scouting combine, CJ Allen is predicted to land in Tampa Bay and join the Baker Mayfield-led Buccaneers.
CJ Allen Mocked to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Here is Mel Kiper’s assessment of why CJ Allen could be a good fit with Tampa Bay, who are all of a sudden in dire need of linebacker help:
“Lavonte David had 114 tackles last season, but he can’t play forever. He’s 36 years old and joins fellow linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. in free agency this offseason. Allen is a three-down linebacker who mixes speed with power to make plays in coverage, against the run and as a blitzer. He might be LB3 in the class, but he’s a top-25 prospect overall. He’d be a good fit under coach Todd Bowles as the Bucs try to retool a bit to reclaim the NFC South.”
GettyAUBURN, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 11: CJ Allen #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs sacks Jackson Arnold #11 of the Auburn Tigers during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
CJ Allen isn’t the only Georgia Football player that pops up in his first-round mock, either, as offensive tackle Monroe Freeling is being predicted to join the Cleveland Browns.
The Georgia Bulldogs have seemingly produced at least one first-round linebacker for the past several years, and Kiper doesn’t suspect that this will change in 2026.
CJ Allen’s Time at Georgia
Allen really emerged as the leader of the Georgia Bulldogs’ defense in 2025 and put out a great tape for how impactful he can be to a football team.
In three seasons with the Bulldogs, Allen recorded 205 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.
The 6-foot-1 Mike Linebacker was almost a lock to enter his name in the NFL draft this cycle, as, since before Georgia’s past season even kicked off, Allen had drawn strong NFL comparisons to some of the best linebackers, and other Bulldog LBs that have entered (and excelled) in the NFL.
As for the Buccaneers needing CJ Allen’s services, if Lavonte David announces his retirement or returns to Tampa Bay for a 15th season, that doesn’t take away from the fact that they still need defensive help, and a defender will likely be used with their No. 15 overall pick.
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