The Washington Commanders took the difficult decision to release veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen after no willing suitor emerged for a trade this offseason. According to one analyst, things are not going well for the interior force in a different environment.
Allen's time with the Commanders had run its course. Not even a phenomenal run to the NFC Championship game boosted his performance or positivity. He found work quickly, penning a lucrative contract with the Minnesota Vikings that guaranteed $31.25 million over three years.
Like the Commanders, the Vikings have failed to reach the heights achieved last season. They've won six games, but Kevin O'Connell's squad is way behind rivals in the NFC North. Allen is taking more heat than most, and Thor Nystrom from SKOR North believes he should see his snaps diminish significantly over Minnesota's final three games.
Jonathan Allen is struggling to find his feet after high-profile Commanders exit
Nystron acknowledged that Allen will be around in 2026 due to the contract. However, he also felt like the time had arrived to make him a pass-rushing specialist at this relatively late stage of his playing career.
"With the interior defensive line for the rest of this season, get [Jonathan] Allen off the field. Cut the snaps in half. Allen has to be [on the team next year] because of the contract. What Allen is still decent to mediocre at is getting after the quarterback. That's what he is at this point of his career. I don't care what the coaching staff says about the run defense utility of the young kids. They will be better on the field than Jonathan Allen. It's better served for the future of the team to give them that developmental playing time."Thor Nystrom
"I don't care what the coaching staff says about the run defense utility of the young kids, they will be better on the field than Jonathan Allen" 😤
— SKOR North - Minnesota Sports (@SKORNorth) December 17, 2025
- @thorku wants to see snaps cut for some members of the #Vikings defensive line pic.twitter.com/lff5Sc8iUq
This won't come as a shock to Commanders fans who watched Allen regress over the two seasons before his early departure. He was a dominant game wrecker across all phases, en route to becoming the team's inspirational leader on defense. The former Alabama star earned two Pro Bowls and a ton of money in Washington. But in the end, his production no longer matched the paycheck.
The Vikings are finding that out to their cost right now. Allen is struggling to get into a groove. He's flashing as a pass-rusher in Brian Flores' blitz-happy scheme. Even so, Minnesota allocated significant financial resources in his direction to be a total package.
Allen and the Commanders were always likely to go their separate ways. Some fans didn't like it, but general manager Adam Peters made the correct call. And even though it's been far from perfect, the defensive line interior is way down the list of problems facing head coach Dan Quinn.
As for Allen? He faces a fight to squeeze more life out of his career. What comes next is crucial.