After spending the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Washington Commanders—the team that selected him in the first round of the 2017 draft—former Alabama standout Jonathan Allen has now found a new home.
Washington released Allen late last week in a cap-saving move, freeing up $15 million. Though the former Pro Bowler has seen a decline in performance over the past couple of seasons and recently turned 30, he still attracted plenty of interest on the market. A team that believes he has plenty left in the tank just rewarded him with a significant deal.
The Minnesota Vikings have signed Allen to a three-year, $60 million contract. He will strengthen the interior of a Vikings defense already stacked with talented edge rushers, likely benefiting from more one-on-one opportunities under defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Allen had an outstanding collegiate career at Alabama, playing a key role in the Crimson Tide’s 2015 National Championship run. His 2016 season was one of the most dominant by a defensive player in program history, earning him a seventh-place finish in Heisman voting. That year, he also claimed the Nagurski, Bednarik, and Lombardi Awards while being recognized as a unanimous All-American.
An Alabama football flavor in Minnesota
Before last season, the Vikings didn’t have a single former Alabama player on their roster. That changed when they drafted Dallas Turner and Will Reichard, acquired Cam Robinson via a mid-season trade, and have now added two more Crimson Tide alumni in free agency.
On Monday, Minnesota agreed to a two-year deal with Ryan Kelly. Kelly and Jonathan Allen were teammates on Alabama’s 2015 National Championship squad, and now they’ll reunite at the pro level.
It remains uncertain whether the Vikings will retain Robinson, who is currently an unrestricted free agent exploring his options. With offensive tackles commanding hefty contracts in this free agency period, it wouldn’t be surprising if a team in need of O-line help offers Robinson a deal that Minnesota simply can’t afford to match.
