Los Angeles Rams select Davis Allen in fifth round of 2023 NFL Draft

An often unsung part of the Clemson offense the past three seasons, tight end Davis Allen will hope to grow into a primetime role now that he’s in the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams took a bet on Allen with the No. 175 overall pick, in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Allen arrived at Clemson in 2019 played sparingly, appearing in five games. He appeared in 11 games as a sophomore, catching 16 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns. Then he stepped into a full-time role as a junior and senior. The past two seasons, Allen played in 26 games for the Tigers, hauling in 67 passes for 651 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s been a consistent, productive option for Clemson and will strive to be that for an NFL team, too.

Allen wasn’t a big-time recruit when he signed with Clemson in 2019. Rated three stars and the No. 780 overall player in the class according to the On3 Industry Ranking, Allen was rated the No. 38 tight end and the No. 81 player from his home state of Georgia.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Allen

While he might not be a Day 1 starter or star of a passing attack, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein sees the promise in Allen. And for the 6-foot-6 tight end, it’s all about going for it when the ball is in the air.

“There is nothing particularly exciting about watching Allen get into and through his routes, but the magic happens once the ball goes up. Allen is a human vacuum, using instinctive body positioning, mid-air adjustments and exceptional catch focus for consistent 50/50 wins. He isn’t much of a route separator, but he secures a high number of contested throws. The blocking technique is good, but the size and strength are just OK by NFL standards for in-line tight ends. Allen’s success will be determined by his ability to improve his routes or find a scheme that can free him to do his thing as a pass-catcher,” Zierlein said.

Zierlein did have some dings on Allen’s game, namely his pedestrian route running — somewhat overcome by his leaping and catching ability — and concerns about his blocking. He was a willing and mostly effective blocker at Clemson, but Zierlein takes pause with the lack of pop and mass behind the pads when Allen is doling out blocks. That might not cut it against NFL defenders with all the size and strength one can handle.