The Indianapolis Colts have signed tight end Dwayne Allen to a four-year contract extension, the team announced Monday. According to Pro Football Talk, the deal is worth $29.4 million.
Colts re-sign TE Dwayne Allen on 4-year deal
The tight end flashed a ton of potential during a breakout rookie season, but largely failed to live up to those expectations over the past few years.
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“Besides the broad skill set and overall talent level he brings, Dwayne’s tenacity and physicality has always been what has set him apart from the beginning,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a statement. “His genuine love for the people of this community, its fans and for the game of football is what makes him special.”
Allen finished 2012 with 45 receptions and 521 yards, outperforming fellow first-year tight end Coby Fleener and showing the ability to thrive both as a capable blocker and receiving threat. Not only did he put impressive numbers for a rookie, but he also was recognized as one of the best tight ends overall in the league. He was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded tight end that season and ranked eighth in Football Outsiders' performance-based value metric.
Since then, however, Allen has been plagued by injuries and reduced to a marginalized role in the Colts’ offense. He missed 21 games in the last three seasons and recorded only 57 receptions when on the field. Allen had an especially rough 2015, in which he caught just 16 passes on 29 targets and even struggled in pass protection. He finished with the second-worst Pro Football Focus grade among tight ends before ending his season on injured reserve.
Despite his declining production and questions about his ability to stay healthy, it’s hard to ignore Allen’s ridiculously good rookie campaign and his tremendous upside as a versatile pass catcher and blocker. At just 25 years old, he has an incredibly high ceiling and the potential to be the featured tight end again in Indianapolis.
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