Washington Football Team training camp profiles: Defensive Line
Jonathan Allen
Experience: 4th season
Draft Status: 2017 first-round pick, 17th overall
2019 Stats: 15 games (15 starts), 68 tackles, seven TFL, six sacks, one pass defense
light. Related Story. Why Jonathan Allen was a steal for Washington
2020 Outlook: Since being a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Allen has morphed into a rock-solid defensive end. He thrived as a five-technique in the team’s 3-4 defense. And in the 4-3, he should have even more positional versatility.
Allen has strength, power, and solid athletic ability. While he will mainly play as an all-around defensive tackle who thrives against the run and the pass, he could also see some time on the edge as a run stopper there. His versatility will allow the team to use him in a variety of roles across the defensive front. It will be interesting to see how Jack Del Rio deploys Allen and what growth Allen can have under the experienced defensive coordinator.
Expected Role: Starter and locker room leader. Allen is the top-dog on Washington’s young defensive line. He may not get the same hype as the edge players get, but he has been hyper-productive the past two seasons. He’ll continue to log 60+ percent of the defensive snaps.
Status: It goes without saying that Allen is a roster lock. He should be a team captain again as well. There are few players more important to the success of the defense than the up-and-coming defensive lineman.