Commanders give Pro Bowl DT Jonathan Allen permission to seek trade

Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen may have played his final snap in burgundy and gold. The franchise granted the two-time Pro Bowler permission to seek a trade on Tuesday. 

The Northern Virginia native, whom the Commanders selected in the first round of the 2017 draft, has posted 42 sacks and started 108 games for Washington. 

“We just talked about it and they said they wanted to be able to explore opportunities,” Commanders general manager Adam Peters said Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “We’re staying in contact with them every day.”

If the Commanders trade or release Allen by June 1, they would save more than $16 million in cap space. The 30-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, with a $15.5 million base salary and no guaranteed money. 

“Really everything’s still on the table in terms of whether it’s trade or staying here or whatever,” Peters said. “We’re still going through that. It’s kind of early in the stages. We haven’t done a lot of exploring yet, but that’s kind of where we’re at right now.”

The Alabama product missed nine games last season with a torn pectoral muscle. Though the team feared he’d be sidelined the rest of the year, Allen returned for the postseason run. 

He posted a vintage performance in the divisional round matchup with the Detroit Lions, pressuring opposing quarterback Jared Goff seven times in the victory.

But Allen’s 2024 campaign was largely inconsistent, even before the injury. He finished the season with 19 total tackles, his lowest output since his rookie year.

Washington has spent years investing in the defensive line, most recently with 2024 second-round pick Jer’Zhan Newton, who recorded 19 tackles and two sacks in his rookie year.

If the Commanders part ways with Allen, coach Dan Quinn will likely rely on Newton and 2018 first-rounder Daron Payne to anchor the defensive front.

“We’re always going to do what’s best for our organization, but we also want to do right by Jon, too,” Peters said.

Trade rumors are nothing new for Allen, who has long been one of the most vocal players in Washington’s locker room. He made headlines near the end of the 4-13 campaign in 2023 for saying he was tired of losing and “1,000%” thought about leaving his hometown team for greener pastures.

Allen could become a valuable trade chip for a franchise looking to repeat last season’s surprise run. In the month since their season ended, the Commanders have found themselves at the center of major trade discussions around the league. 

Former Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett wants to leave the Cleveland Browns? Well, analysts pointed out that Washington could use a top-tier defensive end. However, Browns general manager Andrew Berry insisted the team is not interested in trading Garrett despite his request to be dealt.

Former Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp has likely played his final snap with the Los Angeles Rams, and one former coach quickly noted that the wide receiver would pair well with Commanders star Terry McLaurin.

“Let’s get a veteran guy who will block on the perimeter and buy into the toughness of Dan Quinn and the rest of the Washington Commanders,” former Washington coach Jay Gruden said of Kupp. “He’ll fit in perfect with this offense.”

The trend continued this month when Deebo Samuel, the hybrid wide receiver and running back for the San Francisco 49ers, requested a trade. The Commanders quickly dominated the conversation. 

That will happen when Jayden Daniels, the reigning Rookie of the Year, is taking snaps. 

“He looked great when we played him, but he really showed his [potential] in the playoffs,” Garrett told ESPN of Daniels this month, noting he’d be open to landing in Washington. “He can continue to flourish if he keeps his head down and continues to work.”

The Commanders can’t bank solely on a blockbuster trade to power them to the postseason again, though. The franchise has more than $80 million in cap space, but it will need to replace or re-sign its 28 pending free agents. 

“We’ve got a lot of holes on our roster, in terms of players who played really well for us last year,” Peters said. “We’ll be active in free agency because we have to be, just to field a team.”