Beginning in 2017, the Commanders used a first-round pick on a defensive lineman for four consecutive years. The first player in that stretch – Jonathan Allen – has remained in Washington throughout his career.

The veteran has been a mainstay along the defensive front since a rookie campaign which saw him limited to only five games. A pectoral tear led to a major absence in 2024, and even though Allen managed to return to the lineup when he was feared to be sidelined for the rest of the campaign, he now faces an uncertain future. The 30-year-old could find himself as a cap casualty, Adam La Rose of Pro Football Rumors reports.

Ben Standig of The Athletic writes it appears to be unlikely the Commanders and Allen will work out a restructure or extension which would lower his scheduled 2025 cap hit of $22.47 million. One year remains on his pact, and none of his $15.5 million base salary for the coming campaign is guaranteed. An alteration could of course be on the table, considering Washington is near the top of the NFL in terms of cap space as free agency approaches. Failing that, however, the team could move on via a release.

Allen has produced at least six sacks in a season four times to date, and he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 and ’22. His impact against the passer remained notable this past campaign (three sacks in eight games), but Washington already has Daron Payne under contract on a lucrative deal (which includes guarantees for 2025) for the next two years. The team also selected a potential Allen successor in the form of Johnny Newton last April.

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