The Washington Commanders have cut ties with two-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Allen. Allen, who the team tried to trade, now hits the open market as one of the top defensive linemen. He missed most of the 2024 season with a torn pectoral muscle.
In 2023, Allen had 5.5 sacks, and while he was not healthy for much of 2024, he was on pace to surpass that production, racking up three sacks in just eight games.
Allen has 42 sacks in his NFL career, including a breakout 2021 season where he posted nine sacks. In 2022, Allen followed it up with 7.5 sacks. He has been with the Commanders since 2017, when he was selected in the first round out of Alabama.
That is where the connection to the Pittsburgh Steelers comes into play. Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar coached Allen during his time at Alabama. While that is not always enough to land Allen in this type of circumstance, with the Steelers looking for defensive linemen in the NFL Draft and free agency, Allen checks many boxes.
Allen is one of many standout defensive linemen on the market. With a few cuts such as his, the defensive line market has become much more robust than it previously appeared. The Steelers should be expected to be Allen’s market players.
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