EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings bolstered their interior defensive line Tuesday by agreeing to terms with Jonathan Allen, a first-round pick of the Commanders in 2017.
Allen was free to sign ahead of the New League Year (March 12 this year) because he was released March 7 by Washington.
The 30-year-old adds 109 regular-season games (108 starts) of experience, as well as a track record of pressuring passers.
Allen totaled 42 sacks, 401 tackles, 60 tackles for loss, 118 QB hits, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his time with Washington. He also recorded his lone career interception in 2022 and made the Pro Bowl for a second consecutive season.
View photos of DL Jonathan Allen who joined the Vikings during free agency.
A torn pectoral muscle in Week 6 sidelined him for much of the 2024 season, but he returned for the Commanders final two games of the regular season and helped Washington advance to the NFC Championship Game.
Prior to last season, Allen started at least 15 games for six consecutive seasons and recorded 15 or more QB hits in four of those campaigns.
Allen set career highs of 9.0 sacks and 30 QB hits in 2021 to earn his first Pro Bowl selection and followed with 7.5 sacks and 17 QB hits in 2022. Allen set a single-game career high in QB hits with four against Minnesota in 2022 and tied that with four more against Houston two weeks later.
According to Next Gen Stats, the Vikings did not have an interior defensive lineman record 20 or more pressures in 2024. Minnesota is looking to add that impact to go along with other pressure it successfully applied from the edge and from blitzers.
Allen began his visit with Minnesota's football leadership on Monday evening and stayed overnight in the Twin Cities.
