Jonathan Allen is heading to Cincinnati, and the backstory makes this one of the more unusual signings of the 2026 NFL offseason. The defensive tackle agreed to a two-year deal with the Bengals worth $26 million and up to $28 million through incentives, according to multiple reports. Allen, 31, was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday after being cut for salary cap reasons.
Most Bengals fans remember Allen for something that happened long before this deal. In November 2020, Allen and defensive end Montez Sweat converged on Joe Burrow during a game against Washington, and Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury on the play. Burrow was a rookie at the time. Cincinnati lost that game 20-9, eventually finished 4-11-1 and watched its franchise quarterback spend the rest of the year on injured reserve.
Allen brings legitimate pass rush credentials to Cincinnati
Whatever the history, the Bengals’ interest in Allen is grounded in what he can do on the field. He was a first-round pick, 17th overall, by Washington in 2017 and spent eight seasons with the Commanders before signing with Minnesota in March 2025. During his time in Washington, he played in 109 games, recorded 42 sacks, 60 tackles for loss and 118 quarterback hits across 108 starts. He earned Pro Bowl selections after the 2021 and 2022 seasons, combining for 16.5 sacks over those two years.
His one season in Minnesota was productive enough. He appeared in all 17 games, finished with 68 tackles, 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss, and added a fumble recovery. The Vikings chose not to retain him, making him an unrestricted free agent at the start of the league year.
At $13 million annually, Allen ranks among the highest-paid defenders on Cincinnati’s roster, sitting just behind edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook in average annual salary.
The Bengals are rebuilding their defense from the front back
Allen is the third notable defensive addition Cincinnati has made this offseason and the second along the front line. The Bengals signed Mafe to a three-year deal worth $60 million after he spent his first four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. They also added Cook to anchor the safety position.
The moves reflect a clear priority for the organization heading into 2026. Cincinnati’s defense struggled last season, particularly along the interior, and the team also lost edge rushers Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai in free agency. Replacing that production while adding a versatile interior presence like Allen addresses two problems at once.
Allen’s ability to line up at multiple spots along the defensive line gives coordinator Al Golden more flexibility in how he deploys the front. He can play as a traditional three-technique, shift inside to a nose alignment or push wider depending on the game plan.
For a Bengals team that has built its identity around Burrow’s ability to sustain drives and protect the ball, having a more disruptive defensive front changes what the team can ask of its offense in close games. Forcing turnovers and getting off the field on third down were areas where Cincinnati needed to improve, and the additions made this week are a direct response to that.
The full-circle nature of the Allen signing will not be lost on anyone who watched that 2020 game. Burrow spent years rebuilding from that injury, eventually becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Now the player who was part of the hit that derailed his rookie season will line up on the same sideline.
