The Cincinnati Bengals wasted little time after the Minnesota Vikings released defensive tackle Jonathan Allen on Wednesday. The two sides agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract, a deal that can reach $28 million through incentives, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Allen is a two-time Pro Bowler who was selected 17th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He had joined Minnesota last offseason on a three-year, $60 million contract, only to be let go after one season as the Vikings worked through a serious cap problem.
According to Fowler, Cincinnati pursued Allen aggressively, closing the deal through his agent, Blake Baratz of Team IFA.
How Allen’s Release From Minnesota Set Off a Quick Bengals Pursuit
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
The Vikings officially released Allen alongside fellow defensive tackle Javon Hargrave at the start of the new league year. Together, the two releases freed roughly $21 million in cap space for Minnesota.
Minnesota was more than $46 million over the 2026 salary cap, per OverTheCap. Allen’s $23.9 million projected cap hit was one of the largest on the roster, and releasing him saved the Vikings $6.5 million.
The team used a post-June 1 designation on Allen’s release, which spreads his $17.3 million dead cap figure across two seasons rather than absorbing it all in 2026.
During his one season in Minnesota, Allen started all 17 games, recording 68 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and seven tackles for loss.
Over eight seasons in Washington, Allen compiled 45.5 career sacks, 67 tackles for loss, and 129 quarterback hits across 126 games.
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Jul 27, 2022; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) speaks with the media after day one of training camp at The Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati’s Defense Gets a Much-Needed Boost Going Into 2026
The Bengals finished outside the playoffs for the third consecutive season in 2025, and addressing the defensive line was a clear priority from the start of free agency.
Allen is the third notable defensive addition Cincinnati has made this offseason. The Bengals signed edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal.
Mafe helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl this past season and ranked eighth in pass rush win rate among edge rushers in 2025, per ESPN.
The Bengals also added safety Bryan Cook from the Kansas City Chiefs on a three-year, $40.25 million contract.
At $13 million annually, Allen sits just below Mafe and Cook in average annual salary on Cincinnati’s defense, per OverTheCap data cited by ESPN.
Trey Hendrickson, who had been Cincinnati’s signature pass rusher for years, signed with the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens this week on a four-year, $112 million deal.
Allen does not replicate Hendrickson’s specific role as an edge rusher. Still, his interior pass-rush ability gives Cincinnati a different kind of disruption upfront.
The Bengals have put together a noticeably different defensive roster in a short stretch of time. With Joe Burrow healthy and under contract, whether this rebuilt unit holds up in the AFC North will be the real test when the 2026 season kicks off.