Vikings’ High Price Disappointment Lands with New Team
After racking up quite the free agency bill last year, the Minnesota Vikings have been extremely diligent about their spending this offseason. To offload 2026 salary, Rob Brzezinski, restructured veterans including Aaron Jones and TJ Hockenson, before releasing others like Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen.
Jonathan Allen leaves MN Vikings for Cincinnati Bengals
Shortly after the free agency bell rang on Tuesday, Hargrave took his talents to the land of cheese and fake owners. It took Allen, 31, a bit longer, but he too found his new employer — the Cincinnati Bengals — Thursday, around lunch time. His new deal is worth two years, $28 million.
Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and the Bengals have agreed to a two-year, $28M deal, per sources.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 12, 2026
Cincinnati pursued the former Pro Bowler aggressively after Minnesota released him, reaching a deal with agent @blakebaratz of @TeamIFA pic.twitter.com/j86xxtwnSV
When the Minnesota Vikings signed Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave they envisioned a beefed up interior defensive line. Both were cut as they approached the end of their careers, and effectiveness waned.
Unfortunately, neither found the fountain of youth in Minnesota. Allen’s deal in Minnesota was originally three-year, $51 million — $31.255 million of which was guaranteed. A year later, they ripped it up.
After missing much of his 2024 season with Washington due to injuries, Allen played all 17 games in his one year as a Viking, totaling 68 tackles including seven for loss. He also banked 11 quarterback hits, and 3.5 sacks.
Now at 31 years old, the Bengals are banking on a better version of the former Pro Bowl talent. They need all the help they can get on the defensive line, after the departure of edge Trey Hendrickson.
MN Vikings still need D-line help
It’s more than understandable why the Minnesota Vikings opted against keeping Jonathan Allen (and Javon Hargrave). However, they were brought in last offseason because the interior defensive line needed help. With their departures, that remains true.
Jalen Redmond will be back this season, but Brian Flores needs to feel he can get a push against the run from the middle of his group. Apparently Allen’s departure will further benefit the MN Vikings bottom line, and they can target the position in either free agency or the draft this offseason.
Text from a source familiar with Jonathan Allen’s contract: “My understanding is that it offsets all of the Vikings money so they won’t owe him anything.” https://t.co/B8HgzD7nDE
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) March 12, 2026
As things stand currently, Redmond is joined only by Levi Drake Rodriguez and Taki Taimani. It would be surprising to see either of them given a starting role without a level of competition brought in for camp.
Allen’s 53.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (86th of 134 DL) isn’t tough to improve upon. The Vikings just need to make sure they find someone capable of doing so.
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