After eight seasons and two trips to the Pro Bowl, former Alabama star DL Jonathan Allen has been released by the Washington Commanders. Allen was the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and has spent his entire career with Washington.
Allen made the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022, but his production had dipped the last two seasons with a combined 8.5 sacks. He played in only eight games in 2024 after suffering a torn pectoral, but he feverishly rehabbed to return for Washington's Week 17 tilt against the Atlanta Falcons and played in all three playoff games, the first of his career.
Allen had an outstanding collegiate career with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He won a national championship with the team in 2015 and for his career he finished with 46 tackles for loss and 28.5 sacks. In his senior season in 2016, Allen was one of the most dominant players in the country. He went on to win the Nagurski, Bednarik, and Lombardi awards. He finished 7th in Heisman voting.
He is on the shortlist of the best players of the Nick Saban era at Alabama.
Allen was recently given permission to seek a trade, but with no suitors willing to give up draft capital, the Commanders decided to cut Allen and saved $16.3 million in cap space. He will have a robust market as a free agent with plenty of teams interested in his veteran leadership and the ability he still has left.
The 3 best landing spots for Jonathan Allen in free agency
3. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers will be looking to take a big step forward in 2025. The emergence of Bryce Young as the team's franchise QB over the second half of the season makes the outlook for the future extremely promising, but Carolina still has a lot of holes that need to be filled to contend in the NFC South.
No team in the NFL was worse last year against the run than the Panthers. They allowed 179.8 yards per game on the ground, 38 more yards per game than any other team in the league. Allen can provide help as an interior rusher, but he would be a big upgrade for the Panthers against the run.
Per Over the Cap, Carolina has a little over $27 million in cap space. Allen won't be overly cheap, but he should be a reasonably priced veteran to add to the middle of the Washington defense.
2. Detroit Lions
The Lions suffered a ton of injuries last season, none bigger than Aiden Hutchinson's season-ending injury. They were never the same defensively after that and ultimately got blown out by Allen and the Commanders in Detroit during the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs.
The Lions could be suitors for superstar Myles Garrett, who has requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns. But Garrett will command a steep price. Allen is not on the same level but could ultimately be a solid consolation prize and provide immediate help for Detroit on the defensive line next to Hutchinson.
1. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals need a lot of help on the defensive line. They've recently given Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade. They also released Sheldon Rankins and saw Sam Hubbard retire. They have several free agents who may or may not be back in Cincinnati, including B.J. Hill and Joseph Ossai.
The Bengals finished 25th in the NFL in yards per game allowed last season. That fact kept Cincinnati out of the playoffs despite a terrific season from QB Joe Burrow and a triple crown from WR Ja'Marr Chase.
The Bengals should field one of the league's best offensive teams in 2025, but if they want to get back to the postseason and be Super Bowl contenders again, they need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball.
A proven veteran like Allen would be an immediate upgrade on the defensive interior.