Jonathan Allen, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images
This offseason the Minnesota Vikings were destined to see plenty of turnover. The team racked up quite the free agency bill last year, and a bloated salary cap needed to be compliant prior to the beginning of the new league year on March 11.
With Kwesi Adofo-Mensah gone, Rob Brzezinski was plenty busy working through restructures and cuts. Both interior defensive lineman Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen were sent packing. Neither hefty contract worked out and they found themselves back on the open market.
Hargrave took his talents to the land of fake ownership and signed with the Green Bay Packers. Now Allen has a new employer as well.
Jonathan Allen leaves MN Vikings for Cincinnati Bengals
When the Minnesota Vikings signed Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave they envisioned a beefed up interior defensive line. Both were cut as they approached the end of their careers, and effectiveness waned. Unfortunately, neither found the fountain of youth in Minnesota. Allen lasted just a day on the market longer than Hargrave and is now headed to Cincinnati.
Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and the Bengals have agreed to a two-year, $28M deal, per sources.
Cincinnati pursued the former Pro Bowler aggressively after Minnesota released him, reaching a deal with agent @blakebaratz of @TeamIFA pic.twitter.com/j86xxtwnSV
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 12, 2026
Last offseason the Vikings gave Allen a three-year deal worth up to $51 million. $31.255 million of that was guaranteed. Just a year later they ripped it up. Now Allen has a new $28 million pact with the Bengals.
Although he was hurt in 2024 with Washington, Allen remained healthy for the full season in Minnesota. Across 17 games he picked up 68 tackles including seven for losses. He also had 11 quarterback hits, and 3.5 sacks. It wasn’t a horrendous season, but certainly not what anyone envisioned.
Now at 31 years old, the Bengals are banking on a better version of the former Pro Bowl talent. The two-year deal likely allows them ability to maneuver as the Vikings did next offseason if it doesn’t go well. They need help on the defensive line after the departure of edge Trey Hendrickson, and Allen could provide that up the middle.
MN Vikings still need D-line help
It’s more than understandable why the Minnesota Vikings opted against keeping Jonathan Allen (and Javon Hargrave). However, they were brought in last offseason because the interior defensive line needed help. With their departures, that remains true.
Jalen Redmond will be back this season, but Brian Flores needs to feel he can get a push against the run from the middle of his group. Apparently Allen’s departure will further benefit the MN Vikings bottom line, and they can target the position in either free agency or the draft this offseason.
Text from a source familiar with Jonathan Allen’s contract: “My understanding is that it offsets all of the Vikings money so they won’t owe him anything.” https://t.co/B8HgzD7nDE
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) March 12, 2026
As things stand currently, Redmond is joined only by Levi Drake Rodriguez and Taki Taimani. It would be surprising to see either of them given a starting role without a level of competition brought in for camp.
Allen’s 53.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (86th of 134 DL) isn’t tough to improve upon. The Vikings just need to make sure they find someone capable of doing so.
Mentioned in this article: Jonathan Allen
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