The Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game was one of the high points of their season. The Eagles gouged the Commanders for 229 rushing yards and scored at will as they ended their division rivals’ Cinderella season with a 55-23 victory on Jan. 26.
While the Eagles celebrated and went on to win the Super Bowl, the loss had a residual effect on the Commanders. Washington’s future is still bright with Jayden Daniels at quarterback but they’ve already focused on making big moves to get them over the hump.
The Commanders already made one headline move by acquiring Deebo Samuel in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. But the loss to the Eagles triggered another one by releasing a former Pro Bowl defender on Friday morning.
Commanders Cut Two-Time Pro Bowler Jonathan Allen After Eagles Loss
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Commanders are releasing two-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Allen. The 30-year-old arrived in Washington as the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft but endured his worst season as a pro, logging a career-low Pro Football Focus grade of 59.7 while suffering a torn pectoral muscle that caused him to miss nine games last season.
Commanders informed two-time Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen today that he is being released, per sources. The team is allowing Allen to hit free agency early, and he now is expected to be one of the top DTs on the market. pic.twitter.com/9UYB83v8BH
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2025
Allen was a force in the Commanders' defense, with 42 sacks in his eight seasons. He also made the Pro Bowl in the 2021 and 2022 seasons and appeared to be part of a promising core that contained Daron Payne, Montez Sweat, and Chase Young.
The Commanders had already traded Sweat, who landed with the Chicago Bears in 2023, and Young, who is a free agent for the second straight season. But the Commanders couldn’t find a trade partner for Allen, as Schefter believes teams thought they could get him for a cheaper price on the open market.
The Eagles appeared to be a potential suitor for Allen as they’re bracing to lose interior defender Milton Williams and edge rusher Josh Sweat in free agency. But Howie Roseman was also confident in the ability of Jalyx Hunt and Moro Ojomo to fill those roles at the NFL Scouting Combine, meaning Allen is more likely to land somewhere else.
In a weak free agent market, Allen is set to cash in on one final contract. But it’s also amusing for Eagles fans, as Allen’s release added another layer of satisfaction to their victory in the NFC Championship Game.