Jonathan Allen, the defensive tackle with the Washington Commanders, may already see his writing on the wall.
After Allen voiced his dissatisfaction with playing for a losing team towards the end of Washington’s 4-13 season in 2023, a number of actions appear to suggest that Allen won’t be with the team for very long. Additionally, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report proposed a “shocking” trade that would send Allen to the Philadelphia Eagles, one of the Commanders’ most despised opponents.
Inter-division transactions are not common, but they do occasionally occur. The majority of the time, the arrangement merely makes sense for both sides, according to Ballentine. “Everyone is aware of the importance the Eagles place on their defensive line. They are unlikely to turn out a chance to improve their pass rush. Adding Jonathan Allen—a guy the Commanders should consider playing as a speculative trade chip—would undoubtedly qualify.
Allen, 29, inked a four-year, $72 million contract deal in 2021; he has two seasons remaining on it.
Similar to Allen, Payne is a defensive tackle. Newton, on the other hand, is anticipated to recover from a second Jones Fracture surgery on his foot and eventually establish himself as a starter.
The Eagles, who selected defensive tackles in the first round of the NFL draft in 2022 (Jordan Davis, No. 13 overall) and 2023 (Jalen Carter, No. 9 overall), appear to have made a somewhat cynical decision in trading for Allen.
Neither player has yet proven they are stars; Davis, for example, has only accumulated 2.5 sacks in his first two seasons while starting every game in 2023. In 2023, Carter made 16 appearances, starting one, and finished the season with 6.0 sacks.
Ballentine: “Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are players for the Eagles, although Davis is a part-time run-stuffing nose tackle. At its most fearsome, Philly’s defense featured Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave in the middle.Significant Improvements to Commanders’ Defense
After having the weakest defense in the NFL in 2023, the Commanders made significant offseason investments in defense. They also hired Dan Quinn, a defensive-minded head coach who most recently served as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator after winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013.
Washington acquired four free agents who will jump in and start on Day 1: defensive tackle Dorance Armstrong, safety Jeremy Chinn, linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, and cornerback Mike Sainristil of Michigan. Sainristil appears to be a plug-and-play starter.
