Bengals’ Jonathan Allen Signing Flying Under the Radar Ahead of 2026 Season

Of all the signings Cincinnati made, there wasn't one that flew more under the radar than former Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. The former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive tackle has played in 126 games over nine seasons. Allen will turn 32 in January 2027.

He was selected with the 17th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft after totaling 153 tackles and 28.5 sacks during his time under Nick Saban. He had 12 sacks in 2015 and 10.5 sacks in 2016.

Before the 2024 season, Allen was named the 54th-best player in the NFL by his peers after posting 5.5 sacks and 53 tackles in 2023 with the Commanders. He was the fourth-ranked defensive tackle behind Quinnen Williams, Dexter Lawrence and Chris Jones.

He can line up on the edge and inside on the defensive line, using finesse moves, especially a swim move, to beat blockers. His quick hands may be his best trait.

Allen was consistently described as a leader by players he played against and with. Despite his sack and tackle numbers taking a hit over the past two seasons, especially due to an injury in 2024 that sidelined him after he tore a pectoral muscle and limited him to eight games, the Bengals signed Allen to a two-year, $25 million contract. It was reported by Tom Pelissero that Cincinnati signed Allen just three days after agreeing to terms with Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe.

Cincinnati hasn't had many quality players at defensive tackle, with DJ Reader and B.J. Hill being the most consistent. After acquiring Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants, Allen is not in a position to be the leader of the group at defensive tackle. Going into the season, B.J. Hill would have been the No. 1 player, and now it's fair to say he's at least tied with Allen as the No. 2 defensive tackle.

Allen's experience and consistent production when he's healthy are very valuable traits for the Bengals, and that isn't even mentioning his leadership, which has been a factor in multiple Bengals additions this offseason.

Quality defensive lines have been a big part of successful Cincinnati teams, going back to the days of Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap and the aforementioned B.J. Hill and DJ Reader. Now, with Lawrence, Allen, Mafe and Hill, the Bengals could contend to have one of the better defensive lines in the entire league. Allen could be an underrated piece in what many believe will be a massive turnaround for the Bengals' defense.