Commanders trade/cut Jonathan Allen
- 2025 cap saving: $16.47 million
Then, there's Jonathan Allen.
The Washington Commanders have a complex conundrum on their hands with the veteran defensive tackle. His leadership in the locker room is unquestioned. However, his performance levels have regressed considerably over the last two seasons.
Allen's standout showing in Washington's divisional-round triumph at the Detroit Lions demonstrated his qualities. Maintaining this level consistently is the tricky part these days.
The Commanders will take into account Allen's importance and locker room influence. He's got one more year and no guaranteed money remaining on his deal. If Johnny Newton flourishes, Daron Payne gets a reprieve, and Washington acquires another productive interior force, the former first-round pick out of Alabama becomes expendable.
That gives Peters two choices in this scenario. The Commanders can examine trade possibilities for Allen. There might not be a robust market for the two-time Pro Bowler, but a couple of contending teams might throw a late-round pick to secure his services.
If the Commanders want to do right by Allen, they could release him and choose his next destination. Either way, Peters would have an extra $16.47 million to spend in free agency by trading or cutting one of the team's longest-serving players.
They might let things play out in the last year of Allen's deal. But it could go either way.
Commanders restructure Marshon Lattimore
- 2025 salary-cap saving: $12.55 million
Adam Peters' boldest move so far was acquiring stud cornerback Marshon Lattimore via trade from the New Orleans Saints. The general manager was methodical with his roster construction up to that point. Their early resurgence much sooner than expected saw the front-office leader get a little more aggressive.
It wasn't an easy situation for Lattimore. He came into the organization with a hamstring injury. This restricted him to two games during the regular season before it flared up again. The four-time Pro Bowler returned for the postseason, but he never looked truly healthy.
Although this was disappointing, Peters made his stance on Lattimore abundantly clear. They acquired him for the future as well as the present. The Commanders also expect him to return to his old form with a full offseason to learn the defense and, more importantly, get healthy in the coming months.
That is the smart path to take. Given Peters' supreme confidence in Lattimore and the fact he's got two years remaining on his deal, working out a contract restructure with the former first-round pick out of Ohio State seems like a realistic avenue to go down.
Lattimore is still getting paid either way. A restructuring is projected to save the Commanders $11.46 million on Washington's salary cap in 2025.