Commanders Trade Rumors: GM Adam Peters Reveals Jonathan Allen Status

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters doesn't have any plans on trading defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

Jonathan Allen vs. the New York Giants / Rob Carr/GettyImages

ORLANDO - Amid the seismic change that the Washington Commanders have undergone this offseason, one of the mainstays on their defense appears poised to stay for the foreseeable future.

Commanders general manager Adam Peters spoke at the NFL Owners Meetings and made his intentions known for defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

"We are not interested in trading him," Peters said.

Jonathan Allen vs. the New York Giants / Rob Carr/GettyImages

Allen was the Commanders' first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. In his seven seasons with Washington, he has accumulated 39 sacks with 382 tackles, including 57 for a loss and 111 quarterback hits. He has also made the Pro Bowl twice (2021 and 2022).

Allen, 29, was solid in 2023 on a Commanders defense that was one of the worst in football. He had 5.5 sacks with 19 quarterback hits, the second-highest of his career. He also had 53 tackles, the lowest since his rookie season when he only played in five games.

The Commanders have added plenty to their defense after they were dead last in yards (388.9) and points (30.5) allowed per game last season by signing linebackers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner and pass rushers Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell and safety Jeremy Chinn among other moves. Between those additions and hiring a defensive-minded head coach in Dan Quinn, Washington could be due for a major improvement on defense.

If Washington is going to turn things around on defense, though, it needs to continue to add talent. And if they're going to improve, keeping a player like Allen rather than trading him is a step in the right direction toward turning around an abysmal defense.