For the 2nd year in a row, former Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen will be looking for a new team.
And just like last year, there should be plenty of suitors for Allen, a 2-time Pro Bowler and former 1st round pick.
“The Vikings are expected to release DT Jonathan Allen due to salary cap constraints, per sources,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account on Wednesday. “The former Pro Bowler had 68 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 17 starts. The Vikings are $40-plus million over the cap and need to get under, thus the move.”
Allen signed a 3-year, $51 million contract with the Vikings in March 2025 after he was released by the Commanders to free up $16.5 million in salary cap space.
“$8M of Jonathan Allen’s 2026 salary is fully guaranteed,” Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti wrote on X. “An outright release by the Vikings here frees up $6.5M, while a Post 6/1 Designation can open up $11.2M (in June).”
Vikings Moved Quickly to Sign Jonathan Allen
While Allen’s release by the Commanders wasn’t much of a surprise, it was a bit shocking how quickly the Vikings moved to sign him.
“Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen has reached an agreement with the Vikings on a three-year, $51 million contract,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on March 11.
From ESPN: “Free agent DT Jonathan Allen‘s visit to Minnesota … makes sense from a need standpoint. The Vikings haven’t had a classic interior disruptor in the two seasons Brian Flores has been their defensive coordinator, forcing some creative personnel usage. Allen and Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell overlapped in Washington when O’Connell was an assistant coach there.”
Unpopular Move to Release Former 1st Round Pick
ESPN called out the decision to let Allen go — especially after the Commanders signed free agent defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to a 3-year, $45 million contract.
“Signing Kinlaw to a three-year deal averaging $15 million per year with $30 million fully guaranteed was a head-scratcher,” ESPN’s Seth Walder wrote on July 10. “Kinlaw has largely disappointed since being drafted in the first round in 2020; even with Kinlaw having a career season in 2024 this is a clear overpay … paying Kinlaw this much to replace (Allen) doesn’t make sense.”
Jonathan Allen Played 1st 8 Seasons For Washington
Allen was selected in the 1st round (No. 17 overall) of the 2017 NFL draft after an All-American career at Alabama and played his 1st 8 seasons for the Commanders.
In those 8 seasons, Allen played in the postseason twice, but was mostly missing during the Commanders’ magical 2024 season and run to the NFC Championship Game, when he missed 9 games with a partially torn pectoral muscle but still managed 19 tackles and 3.0 sacks in 8 games. Allen was able to return in Week 17 and for the playoff run.
Allen made consecutive Pro Bowls in 2021 and 2022 — a stretch in which he had 127 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 36 TFL, and 47 QB hits. He igned a 4-year, $72 million contract extension before the 2021 season, and his new contract with the Vikings will bring his career earnings to approximately $128 million.
Before Allen’s release, the Commanders had $162 million in contracts wrapped up in 2 defensive tackles with Allen and 2018 first-round pick Daron Payne, who signed a 4-year, $90 million contract extension in March 2023.
Along with the big-money contracts for Allen, Payne, and Kinlaw, the Commandes also used a 2nd round pick (No. 36 overall) on defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton in the 2024 NFL draft.
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