Over his seven seasons in the NFL, Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen has established himself as one of the premier players at his position, despite playing for one of the league’s struggling teams.
As he heads into his eighth season in 2024, Allen’s status among NFL interior defensive linemen remains elite. PFF’s Sam Monson recently ranked him No. 14 in the Top 32 Interior Defenders in the NFL. Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, a three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time NFL All-Pro, claimed the top spot following the retirement of Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald after the 2023 season.
“Allen isn’t coming off his best season, but he still racked up 49 quarterback pressures and 37 defensive stops for the Commanders last year,” Monson wrote. “At his best, Allen is one of the most formidable pass-rushers in the game. He is just two years removed from a 90.9 PFF pass-rushing grade on the back of 67 pressures and double-digit sacks.”
Despite the Commanders’ struggles — they haven’t had a winning record since 2016 — Allen has been compensated as one of the NFL’s top defensive tackles, signing a 4-year, $72 million contract extension in 2021.
Allen’s Career Amid Commanders’ Challenges
Since being drafted by the Commanders as the No. 17 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Allen has been a standout. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Virginia native was a proven winner at Alabama, securing a College Football Playoff national championship in 2015 and being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
In the NFL, Washington has posted a 43-71-1 record with Allen on the roster, with their only playoff appearance resulting in an NFC Wild Card loss in 2020. Allen’s frustration peaked following a 14-7 loss to the New York Giants in 2023, leading to a notable postgame rant.
A two-time Pro Bowler (2021, 2022), Allen recorded a career-high 9.0 sacks in 2021. Despite an injury-shortened rookie season in 2017, Allen has shown remarkable durability, missing only three games due to injury since 2018 and never more than one game in a single season.
Mentorship and Future Prospects
In 2024, Allen has the chance to impact a revamped Commanders roster under new head coach Dan Quinn, known for his defensive acumen from his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys.
Additionally, Allen could play a crucial role as a mentor to Washington’s talented rookie defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, selected in the 2nd round (No. 36 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft. Newton, the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Illinois, brings a fresh dynamic to the team.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described Newton as an “active interior defender with the potential to build on his disruptive production in college,” noting his ability to handle bigger opponents and his quick hand usage and footwork as both a run defender and pass rusher.
As the Commanders look to the future, Allen’s leadership and performance will be pivotal in shaping the team’s success and mentoring the next generation of defensive talent.
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