The Washington Commanders wanted to bolster their roster after a surprise trip to the Conference Championship Game last season.
That doesn't mean they weren't going to suffer some big losses.
Due to his large cap hit, the Commanders released long-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen in a move to add more space to their offseason spending spree. Allen was a top defensive tackle for Washington during his career, but quickly signed with the Minnesota Vikings once he was made available.
Washington used the money earned from Allen's release as a way to pay for both Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil - two trade acquisitions made this offseason.
Yet as the team moves forward without their star tackle, one analyst believes Allen will remain the team's biggest loss this offseason.
"A two-time Pro Bowler, Allen found a big contract when the Vikings handed him $51 million over three years this offseason," Sports Illustrated's Ryan Phillips wrote in his column identifying each NFL team's biggest free agent loss this offseason. "The 30-year-old only played in eight games during the 2024 campaign as a torn pectoral muscle sidelined him. Allen has fallen off a bit since his most recent Pro Bowl season in 2022 but is still a formidable presence up front."
Allen's presence has seemingly been replaced by former failed first-round pick Javon Kinlaw.
Washington is hoping the connection with Kinlaw and general manager Adam Peters from their San Francisco 49er days will be enough to get him back on track.
It doesn't take away the fact that the Commanders gave an unproven defensive tackle the kind of money that could have gone to Allen as well.
