Free agency is right around the corner, and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is the top interior lineman set to hit the market. As of this posting, Kansas City seems ready to let Jones negotiate with other teams, but they still want to bring him back. If Jones ends up helping Kansas City go for a three-peat, then other interested teams might look to trade for Washington Commanders star defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.
Jonathan Allen is not as good as Chris Jones, but the potential trade target is still one of the better interior pass rushers in football. Now entering the fourth year of a five-year, $82.5 million contract, is coming off of a relatively rough season. According to Pro Football Focus, Allen finished with an unremarkable 59.7 overall grade but had a 77.6 pass-rush grade, the 19th-best mark out of 109 eligible interior linemen.
A name to keep an eye on in trade discussions this March could be #Commanders DT Jonathan Allen, who is entering Year 4 of a 5 year, $82.5M contract in Washington.
The 29-year-old carries a $15.5M salary ($0 GTD) in 2024. If Chris Jones stays in KC, Allen could be on the move.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 1, 2024
Additionally, Jonathan Allen was one of the game’s elite defensive tackles as recently as 2022, so some teams will be willing to trade for him. The only question is whether or not the Washington Commanders would be willing to deal him.
Star Defensive Tackle Jonathan Allen Could Be on the Trade Block
Spotrac implies that Jonathan Allen will only be on the trade block if Chris Jones stays with Kansas City, which implies the Chiefs won’t have any interest in trading for the veteran. This makes sense, as the reigning Super Bowl champions are a little strapped for cash. With L’Jarius Sneed on the franchise tag, the Chiefs only have $9.56 million in available cap space. While they’d certainly be willing to make the money work for a homegrown star like Chris Jones, you can understand why they’d be less willing to give up a draft pick and reshuffle contracts for Jonathan Allen.
The Washington Commanders, meanwhile, need all the help they can get on defense, which might complicate a Jonathan Allen trade. However, the defensive tackle is entering his age-29 season, and even with a better quarterback, the Commanders are still a few years away from competing. If they can get a decent draft pick for his services while simultaneously clearing some money, then they’d be foolish not to take that deal.
Possible Trade Destinations
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars have Josh Allen on their roster and still found a way to record the fewest sacks in the league. Allen is one of the best pass rushers in the game, but he can’t carry this entire defense on his own. With no defensive tackles capable of collapsing the pocket, the Jaguars should seriously consider a trade for Jonathan Allen. If they want to take the division back from C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans, they’ll need to find someone capable of creating pressure from the inside.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions made it as far as they did because of their offense. If they want to win it all in 2024, they’ll need the defense to pick up some of the slack. While Dan Campbell’s fourth down decisions stole all the headlines, the fact of the matter is that the 49ers would have never been able to pull off their amazing comeback if they could get pressure on Brock Purdy. A Jonathan Allen trade would solidify the interior defensive line while also giving Aidan Hutchinson the first real pass-rushing partner of his career.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have been searching for an answer at defensive tackle for years now. Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco were never able to find the right fit, but perhaps Jim Harbaugh can plug that hole with a Jonathan Allen trade. While Allen might not be the best run defender at this point in his career, he can get after the quarterback, and that’s a trait you need when you share a division with Patrick Mahomes. And if the Chargers are worried about making the money work, they can always release Mike Williams.
Cincinnati Bengals
Assuming Joe Burrow stays healthy, the Cincinnati Bengals have a championship-caliber roster. However, when you share a division with the Baltimore Ravens and a conference with the Kansas City Chiefs, you need to build the most complete team you possibly can if you want to make it to the Super Bowl. The Bengals could use another pass rusher to accompany D.J. Reader in the middle of the defensive line, and these two could collapse any pocket in the game.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have the foundation for sustained success, and the upcoming offseason should be all about adding the right pieces to get this team ready for a championship. Losing Joe Barry is addition by subtraction, but acquiring Jonathan Allen via trade will go a long way in improving a stagnant pass rush. If Jordan Love continues to improve while the defense adds more playmakers, then the sky is the limit for this roster.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta – USA Today Sports
