Commanders release top defensive tackle into the free market

After eight great years with the Washington Commanders, the team has released defensive tackle Jonathan Allen after they failed to find a trade partner for him.

Allen and Commanders part ways

Allen would have been entering the final year of his contract with a base salary of $15.5 million and no guaranteed money left. The Commanders told Allen earlier this month that they would not be extending his contract and granted him permission to seek a trade with another team. However, despite several teams being interested in the two-time Pro Bowler, they decided it would be best to wait it out until he was released to sign him to a better deal for them.

The Commanders selected Allen 17th overall in the first round of the 2017 Draft despite concerns about arthritis in his shoulder. In his eight seasons with the team, he put up 42 sacks and hardly ever missed a game.

Last year, however, Allen was out with a torn left pectoral injury and had to miss nine games. In the draft last year, the Commanders had selected Jer’Zhan Newton, who started alongside Daron Payne while Allen was out. Fortunately, Allen’s injury was not as serious as initially feared and he was able to play in the Commanders' final two regular season games and all three playoff games, contributing three sacks, three tackles for a loss, and seven quarterback hits.

With the release of Allen, the Commanders are saving $16.3 million in cap space. And Allen remains one of the top defensive tackles on the market.

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