The Minnesota Vikings have not employed a truly impactful three-technique defensive tackle since Kevin Williams.
Vikings Fire Up Long Overdue Defensive Signing
And that was 12 years ago.
That drought ended Tuesday morning when the purple team signed Jonathan Allen, formerly of the Washington Commanders, to a three-year deal worth up to $60 million. Allen is a Viking.
NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted Tuesday, “Former Commanders Pro Bowl DT Jonathan Allen is signing with the Vikings on a 3-year $60M per me and Tom Pelissero. Huge. Deal done by Blake Baratz of Team IFA.”
Allen will instantly replace last year’s primary defensive tackle, Jerry Tillery, and represents the most serious interior defensive line upgrade in over a decade.
Between Kevin Williams and Jerry Tillery, Minnesota has employed these mid-tier DT solutions since the start of 2014:
- Ross Blacklock
- Jonathan Bullard
- Sharrif Floyd
- Jaleel Johnson
- Tom Johnson
- Dean Lowry
- James Lynch
- Sheldon Richardson
- Shamar Stephen
- Jerry Tillery
- Jaquelin Roy
- Armon Watts
The era of mediocre DT fixes is over.
Entering free agency, Minnesota had these DTs under contract for 2025:
- Harrison Phillips
- Jalen Redmond
- Taki Taimani
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Jonathan Harris
- Travis Bell
Allen was actually in Minnesota’s trade rumor mill last year, starting in the summer and leading all the way up to the November deadline. Washington ultimately hung onto Allen and later reached the NFC Championship.
The Commanders drafted Jer’Zhan Newton at Allen’s spot last April, meaning they already have his replacement ready and waiting. Allen has tallied quiet years by his lofty standards in 2023 and 2024 but was a two-time Pro Bowler before that.
Meanwhile, the Vikings were fixated on adding an impactful defensive tackle this offseason. General manager Adofo-Mensah spoke at the NFL Combine two weeks ago, acknowledging that his team must improve in the defensive trenches. “To play January football, there’s a certain way you’ve got to play. You’ve got to be able to control the ball, and be able to get after the passer with just four. We need to get better and will,” the Vikings boss told reporters.
He wasn’t bluffing.
Here’s his Pro Football Focus resume to date:
- 2024: 56.0
- 2023: 59.7
- 2022: 80.1
- 2021: 84.9
- 2020: 78.4
- 2019: 60.5
- 2018: 69.7
- 2017: 78.2
At the peak of his powers, Allen is an elite pass-rushing defensive tackle.
It’s also worth nothing that signing Allen won’t count against the Vikings’ compensatory draft formula next year because the Commanders recently released him.
Allen turned 30 two months ago.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.