Vikings Pull Plug on Disappointing D-Lineman
The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of a cap crunch, as they’ve already told Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave that they would be released at the start of the new league year. For a pair of veterans that are on the mostly in a performance decline, both carry cap numbers that aren’t tenable for a team needing to shed salary.
We have heard that Jonathan Greenard is on the trade block, and he too carries a significant number while wanting even more in a new contract. Interest in Kyler Murray and Geno Smith is real, because both would only cost little more than the league minimum.
Falling in line Hargrave, Jonathan Allen came in last season only to fall short of expectations. Now he is part of the exodus as well.
Jonathan Allen set to be released by Minnesota Vikings
Last offseason the Minnesota Vikings saw their interior defensive line as a serious problem. They brought in both Hargrave and Allen as options to change that reality. One year later, both are set to be gone.
The Vikings are expected to release DT Jonathan Allen due to salary cap constraints, per sources.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 4, 2026
The former Pro Bowler had 68 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 17 starts. The Vikings are $40-plus million over the cap and need to get under, thus the move. pic.twitter.com/kz2W6alkaM
The Washington Commanders cut Jonathan Allen last offseason and the MN Vikings tired to revive his career. While he was healthy for all 17 games, the performance really didn’t follow. He racked up 68 tackles with 3.5 sacks, but ranked 86th out of 134 interior defensive lineman per Pro Football Focus.
Allen was better in pass rush (51st) than he was rush defense (102nd), but the overall production left plenty to be desired. The Vikings gave him a three-year contract worth $51 million, and rather than waiting through year two, they will absorb $17.3 million as a cap hit rather than carrying his $23.8 million number to keep him.
It remains to be seen how Minnesota will rebuild the defensive line for Brian Flores. Jalen Redmond broke out last season, and he was given an exclusive rights tender on Wednesday. That’s one key piece to return, but the starting ability and depth needs to go beyond just Redmond.
Defensive line now a serious need for MN Vikings
Had the Minnesota Vikings kept both Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen this offseason, their defensive front would have been largely set. With both ushered out, they are now in massive need.
Mock drafts have been all over the place for the Vikings given they have many spots to fill, but defensive lineman Caleb Banks was recently projected to Minnesota with the 18th overall pick by Jordan Reid (ESPN). There are injury concerns there, but Minnesota could integrate him slowly and watch him flourish as needed now that the two veteran starters from 2025 are gone.
Last season Brian Flores had a defense substantially stretched thin at the cornerback position. He countered that by focusing on the pass rush. That could be back in 2026 on the edges, but it’s hard to see how the interior holds up. The group, as it stands, almost certainly won’t be what they roll out Week 1…
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