Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Former Commanders star will give new team a 'formidable presence'

Originally posted on Washington Commanders on SI
By David Harrison | Last updated Apr 6, 2025 4:00 PM ET

In eight years and 109 career games with the Washington Commanders , defensive tackle Jonathan Allen became one of the faces of the franchise, made a lot of money, and unfortunately didn't win as many games as he'd like to have.

That last fact came to a head in the 2023 NFL season as the Commanders stumbled their way to another losing season, presumably dragging Allen down with them.

In 2024, Washington turned things around . However, thanks in large part to a pectoral injury, it appeared that the team had surpassed the 30-year old veteran. Now, after being released and signing with the Minnesota Vikings, Allen is elsewhere, and is the single-biggest loss the franchise experienced this offseason.

"A two-time Pro Bowler, Allen found a big contract when the Vikings handed him $51 million over three years this offseason," Sports Illustrated's Ryan Phillips wrote in his column identifying each NFL team's biggest free agent loss this offseason. "The 30-year-old only played in eight games during the 2024 campaign as a torn pectoral muscle sidelined him. Allen has fallen off a bit since his most recent Pro Bowl season in 2022 but is still a formidable presence up front."

That big contract with the Vikings will count for just over $6 million against the salary cap this season, but elevates north of $20 million in the next two seasons if he remains with that team.

Meanwhile, the Commanders are going to look hard at second-year defensive tackle Johnny Newton alongside Daron Payne and newly signed veteran Javon Kinlaw to lead the charge up front in Allen's absence.