The Minnesota Vikings have notably onboarded Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (G), Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), Jordan Mason (RB, trade), Isaiah Rodgers (CB), Jeff Okudah (CB), and Rondale Moore (WR) in free agency in addition to re-connecting with Aaron Jones (RB), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), Theo Jackson (S), and Harrison Smith (S).
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah let his hair down in the last week and a half, concocting a Super Bowl-caliber roster and one that seems to simply need decent quarterback play.
According to ESPN’s Pamela Maldonado, Jonathan Allen, Minnesota’s new interior defensive lineman, is the NFL’s best free-agent move. A panel of ESPN writers and analysts opined the top free-agent move around the business this week, and for Maldonado, it was Allen to Minnesota.
“The Vikings signing defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. Minnesota’s defense desperately needed disruption and toughness, especially against the run. Landing Allen at three years, $60 million instantly fixes that. He can stop plays cold and send quarterbacks scrambling,” she wrote. “It’s a move that reshapes the Vikings’ defensive identity and significantly elevates their competitiveness in the NFC North.”
Others picked Davante Adams (WR) to the Los Angeles Rams and Najee Harris (RB) to the Las Vegas Raiders, for example. But for Minnesota and its overdue defensive tackle upgrade, Allen got the nod.
Here’s Allen’s Pro Football Focus resume to date:
- 2024: 56.0
- 2023: 59.7
- 2022: 80.1
- 2021: 84.9
- 2020: 78.4
- 2019: 60.5
- 2018: 69.7
- 2017: 78.2
At the peak of his powers, Allen is an elite pass-rushing defensive tackle. It’s also worth noting that signing Allen won’t count against the Vikings’ compensatory draft formula next year because the Commanders recently released him. Minnesota is on tap to receive a 3rd-Round compensatory selection in 2026, along with a 4th- or 5th-Rounder, depending on Daniel Jones’ role with the Indianapolis Colts.
Entering free agency, Minnesota had these DTs under contract for 2025:
- Harrison Phillips
- Jalen Redmond
- Taki Taimani
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Jonathan Harris
- Travis Bell
Allen was actually in Minnesota’s trade rumor mill last year, starting in the summer and leading all the way up to the November deadline. Washington ultimately hung onto Allen and later reached the NFC Championship.
About an hour after the Allen move, Minnesota agreed to a deal with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, so the Vikings are on deck to showcase two premium, albeit older, interior defensive linemen. Now, Allen and his buddy Hargrave are in the house to play alongside this ferocious group:
- Dallas Turner
- Javon Hargrave
- Jonathan Allen
- Harrison Phillips
- Jonathan Greenard
- Andrew Van Ginkel
Minnesota’s defense ranked second per DVOA in 2024 under Brian Flores and improved mightily from the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. With 2024 free-agent newcomers Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Cashman, the Vikings’ defense became a formidable unit and will look to get even better in 2025 with Allen and Hargrave.
The Vikings were fixated on adding an impactful defensive tackle this offseason. General manager Adofo-Mensah spoke at the NFL Combine three weeks ago, acknowledging that his team must improve in the defensive trenches. “To play January football, there’s a certain way you’ve got to play. You’ve got to be able to control the ball, and be able to get after the passer with just four. We need to get better and will,” the Vikings boss told reporters.
Allen will instantly replace last year’s primary defensive tackle, Jerry Tillery, and represents the most serious interior defensive line upgrade in over a decade. Between Kevin Williams and Jerry Tillery, Minnesota has employed these mid-tier DT solutions since the start of 2014:
- Ross Blacklock
- Jonathan Bullard
- Sharrif Floyd
- Jaleel Johnson
- Tom Johnson
- Dean Lowry
- James Lynch
- Sheldon Richardson
- Shamar Stephen
- Jerry Tillery
- Jaquelin Roy
- Armon Watts
The era of mundane DT repairs is over.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
