Those Jonthan Allen rumors were true for the Minnesota Vikings.
Vikings to Meet with Prize Defensive Free Agent
The recently released former Washington Commander will meet with the purple team this week, as Minnesota has vowed to address the defensive line’s interior this offseason.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert posted on BlueSky, an X alternative, because that website and app were down on the most important day of the NFL calendar: “Per colleague Jeremy Fowler, free agent DT Jonathan Allen plans to visit the Vikings. Allen overlapped in Washington with Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell when O’Connell was an assistant coach there.”
Entering free agency, Minnesota has these DTs under contract for 2025:
- Harrison Phillips
- Jalen Redmond
- Taki Taimani
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Jonathan Harris
- Travis Bell
Allen, in theory, would represent a serious upgrade at the three-technique spot.
According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Minnesota as an Allen landing spot checks out. “Here’s what I would tell you. My sense is that he would have all sorts of interest in being a Minnesota Viking. A lot of players would have interest in being a Minnesota Viking. They have set up an infrastructure that lends itself to a lot of players having interest in being here,” Wolfson said about Allen on SKOR North airwaves last month after the Allen trade smoke billowed. He was released by Washington a few days later.
“Whether the Vikings want to play ball, whether the Vikings reciprocate that interest remains to be seen. To suggest that Allen would have interest in the Vikings, I would say you are accurate in doing so.”
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 seem fixated on adding an impactful defensive tackle this offseason. General manager Adofo-Mensah spoke at the NFL Combine last Tuesday, 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.
That seemed to hint at DT improvement, which Allen could provide this offseason.
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
Allen turned 30 in January.
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.