Vikings Set to ‘Evolve’ After Adding $51 Million Pro Bowl Playmaker

The Minnesota Vikings spent heavily in free agency this offseason, and their focus was along the lines, where they added, among others, Jonathan Allen. Allen, 30, is a two-time Pro Bowler and was the No. 17 overall pick of the 2017 draft by the Washington Commanders organization.

After eight seasons representing burgundy and gold, Allen replaced the former with purple. He signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Vikings in free agency.

The Athletic’s Alec Lewis believes Allen could help the Vikings’ defense “evolve.”

“Meet him, and you’ll understand why he’s been as good as he has,” Lewis wrote on July 9. “There’s no messing around. It’s all business. Health-permitting, Allen will allow [Vikings defensive coordinator Brian] Flores’ defense to evolve.”

Allen recorded 3.0 sacks and 19 total tackles (3 tackles for loss) with the Commanders in 2024, starting seven of the eight games he played in.

The Vikings can take solace in Allen averaging 16 starts per season from 2018 through 2023.

Jonathan Allen, Jovan Hargrave Add New Dynamic for Vikings

Allen averaged 6.3 sacks per campaign, with his 38.0 sacks ranking eighth among interior defensive linemen in that span, per Stathead. New Vikings teammate Javon Hargrave, who logged 40.5 sacks in that six-year window, is among those ahead of Allen.

Lewis noted Hargrave’s mobility in his piece, saying, “Men of his size shouldn’t move like he does. It’s like an illusion,” and that “Sometimes it doesn’t have to make sense.”

Hargrave fell out of 10th place among DTs in ESPN’s poll after an injury-marred year.

“Hargrave suffered a torn triceps three games into his second season with the 49ers, undergoing surgery and not returning to the field before being released in March,” ESPN wrote on July 8. “The two-time Pro Bowler subsequently signed a two-year, $30 million contract with Minnesota, the fourth team for the 32-year-old since he entered the league in 2016.”

The Vikings team ranked fifth in sacks during the 2024 regular season. However, Allen and Hargrave’s additions do create some questions, namely for Vikings incumbent Harrison Phillips.

He was often the only down lineman on the field for the Vikings in 2023.

“The Vikings extended Phillips last year. He’s been as effective a run-stopper as there is in the NFL,” Lewis wrote. “The question is: With Allen and Javon Hargrave now in the fold, how much will he play and in what role?”

Vikings DL Depth a Strength Entering 2025

Phillips led all Vikings defensive linemen with a 59.4% snap share in 2024, per Pro Football Reference, which could prove informative with Allen and Hargrave coming aboard.

Jonathan Bullard was second at 50.5% with Jerry Tillery third at 41.1%.

Allen and Hargrave are more accomplished players (both are two-time Pro Bowler) than Bullard and Tillery. But they and Phillips will likely be part of a deep DL rotation for the Vikings. The group also includes recent draft picks Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.

The Vikings spent $266.5 million in free agency this offseason, per Spotrac. Of that, $81 million went to Allen and Hargrave (two years, $30 million).

Another $15 million (over two years) went to Phillips.

Despite their investment in Allen, Hargrave, and Phillips, the Vikings are still spending the 14th-fewest cap dollars on their interior defensive line, per Over The Cap. If their production surpasses their presumed value, the Vikings’ defense will put together another strong effort in 2025.