Cincinnati Bengals DT Jonathan Allen wants to win a Super Bowl.
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Cincinnati Bengals DT Jonathan Allen wants to win a Super Bowl.
After finishing the 2024 NFL season 25th in the NFL in total defense, the Cincinnati Bengals followed up that stellar effort by climbing all the way to 31st in 2025. They are surely hoping that recently fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was the problem because it’s really tough to replace 11 players on one side of the ball in one fell swoop.
On the surface, it’s difficult to see how the Bengals improved defensively so far, although to be fair we’re barely one week into free agency. But, when that week includes losing by far your best defender in Trey Hendrickson, it’s easy to jump to conclusions.
Now, new defensive coordinator Al Golden has some help in newly acquired defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (to go with edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook, who the team also signed). Allen has been one of the better defensive tackles in the NFL since getting drafted in the first round by the Washington Commanders in 2017, but he was released by the Minnesota Vikings last week and latched on with the Bengals on a two-year deal.
If it sounds like the Bengals are trying to fill an empty bathtub with an eye dropper, that’s probably fairly accurate.
Jonathan Allen thinks the Cincinnati Bengals have a chance to win a Super Bowl
While Allen’s optimism is admirable, he obviously didn’t get a chance to watch much Bengals football last year. The Bengals were 30th in the NFL in points given up with 28.9 per game. That’s not one-or-two-players-away, that’s failure from top to bottom.
But, Allen thinks he can get things turned around.
“This is one of the few places I can compete for a Super Bowl and have a chance to showcase my talent,” Allen said, via the team’s official website. “When you see what they have on the offensive side of the ball, that’s a dream for a defensive lineman. I think people would be lining up to play with a guy like Joe Burrow and the offense they have. Then the young guys you have on defense and the pieces you’re adding, I really think this team is going somewhere.”
Sounds like when the Bengals signed him they told him he’d be playing offense with Burrow. But, who knows? Every team needs an edge when luring big-name free agents.
Jonathan Allen will help Cincinnati Bengals’ defense, but not enough
I’m not trying to sound doom and gloom on the Bengals and their defense, but they have just been awful for years now. Sure, Hendrickson was banged up last year and his effectiveness was severely limited, but there are holes at every level of the defense in Cincy. When you are consistently ranked so low in so many categories, you aren’t one player away.
Maybe Golden has a plan for Allen and he’ll have a nice impact. After all, there is only one direction this defense can go.
“That’s one of the things that excited me the most about coming here,” said Allen. “They’re talking about moving me around, getting some one-on-ones and really being able to get after the passer and shut down the run, the things I love to do.”
Make no mistake, Allen will help and his optimism is admirable. But, the Bengals defensive problems run so deep, they are going to need Shemar Stewart to step up and match his lofty draft status while throwing another draft at that side of the ball.
Otherwise, we’re going to get more post-game hostage videos from quarterback Joe Burrow in 2026.