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Last week, Field Yates of ESPN named one move every NFL should make before the start of the 2021 NFL season. Yates said Washington should extend tight Logan Thomas.
Now, Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report offered a similar list — and a similar request for the Washington Football Team — albeit with a different player.
Sobleski said Washington’s one remaining move should be to extend defensive lineman Jonathan Allen.
He’s 100% correct. Allen is not only a terrific player, but he’s arguably the leader of the entire team. Some of what Allen brings to Washington cannot be replaced.
The Washington Football Team is rare because its identity centers on a ferocious defensive front. Jonathan Allen, who became the first of four consecutive first-round defensive line selections, leads the way.
The 2017 17th overall pick will play under his fifth-year option this fall. But Washington should try to avoid going into the season with Allen on the last year of his deal.
The veteran brings a complete skill set. Chase Young may be the crown jewel of Washington’s defensive front, but Allen makes the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year’s life much easier. The organization should get a contract extension done and make sure Allen is happy.
“I want to be here,” Allen told reporters. “This is where I’m from, this is my hometown. I’ve always had the goal of playing with one team my whole career. I think I have a great opportunity to do that here.”
Both Yates and Sobleski are correct. Everyone knows an Allen extension is critical on many fronts. Yates was right, too, because Thomas is important to the offense, and the team has an opportunity to lock him up before he has another big season in 2021, and the price goes up.
So, yes, Washington has two moves it should make before the 2021 season — re-sign both Allen and Thomas to extensions. The money is there. The cap room is there.
Getting these types of moves done in a timely fashion is important as other young players, such as wide receiver Terry McLaurin, are watching.