Verdict needed — be the first to weigh in on this NFL move.
No fan grades yet. Your vote sets the Fan Verdict the rest of the crowd reacts to.
C+
A-
N/A
Fan VerdictCast your verdict on this move
Grade Indianapolis Colts sign LB CJ Allen
Your grade joins the crowd-sourced Fan Verdict.
Quick Reaction
Sentiment Analysis
A-
Very Positive
NegativeMixedPositive
Colts add a quality starter at linebacker through the second round. Media consensus highlights Allen as a productive Georgia prospect with high-level traits. DC Lou Anarumo's endorsement and Allen's confident demeanor signal genuine starter potential. Fans view this as a solid defensive investment addressing a roster need. Indianapolis projects Allen as an immediate contributor to their linebacker rotation going forward.
📰5 news
Contract Value Index (CVI)
C+
Fair Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
The Indianapolis Colts' signing of linebacker CJ Allen earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a verdict that reflects a modest, below-market investment in a depth piece rather than a cornerstone addition. At $2.3M AAV on a four-year, $9.1M deal, the contract carries minimal cap burden and avoids the guaranteed-money pitfalls that plague middle-tier linebacker signings, giving the front office an easy exit if production dips or roster priorities shift. For a team sitting at 8-9 with playoff positioning fragile and a seven-game losing streak in the rearview, this signing targets immediate depth without mortgaging long-term flexibility—a pragmatic move that values optionality over commitment. The CVI lands in the C+ range because the deal itself is fair-market, neither exploitative nor generous; Allen receives competitively modest compensation that aligns with his tier, but the Colts also absorb no surplus value windfall from an under-market bargain. The structure's four-year runway and low annual hit suggest front-office confidence in a low-risk, easy-to-manage roster slot, fitting the preseason calculus of a team still weeks from regular-season stakes and needing depth stabilization more than star power.
Contract Details
- Length
- 4 years
- Total Value
- $9.1M
- AAV
- $2.3M
News & Buzz
Live Discussion
Auto-moderated fan forum with 5-minute speaker turns
Discussion
Loading discussion...
Explore the leaderboards
About this NFL transaction
The Indianapolis Colts signed CJ Allen (LB) on May 8, 2026. FanVerdicts covers every reported NFL move — and asks fans to weigh in on each one. Cast your Fan Verdict on this move, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts brings its own read too — sentiment and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index C+, Sentiment A-.
Contract details below show the years, total value, average annual value, and guaranteed money behind the Contract Value Index read. That read does not change once written — it reflects market expectations at the moment of signing, recomputed only if the contract is restructured.
Want broader context? The NFL hub has the league-wide transaction feed and team rankings. The NFL transactions feed lists every reported move across the league, each one open for the crowd's verdict.