Playing a game of word association in an appearance on the Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C. last week, new Commanders coach Dan Quinn called defensive tackle Jonathan Allen “dominant.”
Surely, Quinn wouldn’t want general manager Adam Peters to trade a dominant player — and one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles — would he?
Well, of course, he wouldn’t. Coaches never want to trade good players. Especially players who can still play at a high level. But while Washington has preached this new regime will be a collaborative group with an aligned vision, Peters may realize that Allen’s value could never be higher — especially of the Chiefs keep star defensive tackle Chris Jones off the market.
Allen’s name has centered around trade rumors since late last season when he voiced his frustration over the constant losing. However, last month at a media event, Allen backed off those comments and said he was excited about Peters, Quinn and the new regime.
While there has been nothing official on Allen or any of Washington’s players, more speculation has emerged of Allen potentially being traded, including this tweet from Spotrac, which covers the NFL salary cap.
A name to keep an eye on in trade discussions this March could be #Commanders DT Jonathan Allen, who is entering Year 4 of a 5 year, $82.5M contract in Washington.
The 29-year-old carries a $15.5M salary ($0 GTD) in 2024. If Chris Jones stays in KC, Allen could be on the move.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 1, 2024
Keep in mind, this is not a report — it’s speculation. However, it does make sense. Allen has two years remaining on his contract at a reasonable rate for a player of his magnitude and no guaranteed money left. That’s good for Washington. It also helps his potential trade value.
If Allen is traded — which I still believe is unlikely — it could happen sometime in the next two weeks with the opening of the new league year and free agency.
