Sports
Vikings DT Jonathan Allen Signs with New Team
The Minnesota Vikings officially cut ties with Jonathan Allen on Wednesday, and about 24 hours later, the Cincinnati Bengals swooped, signing the veteran defensive tackle to a two-year deal.
Cincinnati moved quickly after Allen hit the market.
Allen did not work out in Minnesota, but he’ll hope to get back on track with Zac Taylor’s team.
The Bengals Scooped Up Allen — Fast
Perhaps Minnesota will find a rookie DT in the draft.
Allen to CIN
Allen is a Bengal, as ESPN’s Ben Baby wrote Thursday, “Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and the Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Thursday. Allen’s deal can be worth up to $28 million through incentives, the sources told Fowler. Allen, 31, was another cap casualty of the Minnesota Vikings and was officially released Wednesday after the start of the 2026 league year.”
“Allen is the second major acquisition the Bengals have made to improve their defensive line. Cincinnati also signed former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year deal worth $60 million. At $13 million annually excluding incentives, Allen slots in as one of the most expensive players on Cincinnati’s defense.”
He banked $23 million guaranteed last offseason with Minnesota, so Allen is quietly stacking successive contracts on the back nine of his career. There’s also a chance that his new deal in Cincinnati offsets some of the money the Vikings owe him. Stay tuned for clarity.
The New DT Group for Bengals
With Allen in the house, Cincinnati’s DT corps now looks like this after 3.5 days of free agency:
- B.J. Hill
- Jonathan Allen
- Kris Jenkins Jr.
- T.J. Slaton Jr.
- McKinnely Jackson
- Jordan Jefferson
- Howard Cross III
That feels like a group that may use a pick early in April’s draft on a defensive tackle, as plenty will be on the board.
Cincy Jungle‘s Jason Marcum noted Thursday, “This will also hopefully keep the Bengals from drafting a defensive tackle at pick No. 10 because of need. Maybe the best player available will be at that position, but it’s no longer an immediate need that the team could have felt forced into addressing with that draft capital.”
BengalsWire‘s Chris Roling assigned the move a ‘B’ grade and explained, “The Bengals are quite a bit more dynamic up front and have dramatically improved the secondary so far in free agency. Allen’s arrival doesn’t rule out another front-seven addition in the top 10 of the draft, either.”
“There’s risk with Allen. But the aggressive move at a serious need for the third time so far is really good to see and adding all three up makes for an impressive few days of free agency.”
Allen’s 2025 Campaign
Allen did not live up to his three-year, $50 million contract in Minnesota last offseason, prompting some purple fans to declare that the veteran is washed and incapable of regaining the top-tier form he had a few years ago. He put together a terrible Pro Football Grade of 53.2, struggling mightily in stopping the run (45.4), while recording a 64.9 mark in rushing quarterbacks.
All told, Allen ranked 6th in tackles among all DTs, 10th in stops, 11th in quarterback hits, 25th in sacks, and 27th in quarterback pressures.
It’s worth noting that some pundits claim that Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’s scheme is not an ideal setup for defensive tackles, though men like Jalen Redmond or Christian Wilkins over the years might disagree.
Vikings’ Future at DT and Money Saved
To bolster their defensive tackle depth, Minnesota still has several options to explore.
Free agency still offers experienced possibilities. Veterans like Dalvin Tomlinson, Calais Campbell, David Onyemata, D.J. Reader, and Larry Ogunjobi remain available, potentially providing the Vikings with proven depth.
The draft presents another viable strategy, and Minnesota is well-positioned to select an interior lineman early if the front office chooses. Prospects such as Peter Woods (Clemson), Caleb Banks (Florida), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), and Christen Miller (Georgia) are among the defensive tackles expected to draw attention near the top of the draft.
Beyond the projected starters, the depth chart is open for competition. Levi Drake Rodriguez has shown improvement as a run defender and could be in line for an expanded role. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins received a bit of playing time as a rookie, and undrafted defensive tackle Elijah Williams impressed during training camp and the preseason. Additionally, Minnesota acquired UFL defender Jaylon Hutchings in January.
The aforementioned Redmond, returning on a tendered deal, is a lock to start once again in 2026.
Allen turned 31 in January. Cincinnati is expected to win nine or ten games in 2026, according to oddsmakers.
