As we look toward the 2023 regular season, we count down the most important players for the Washington Commanders ahead of training camp. On Tuesday, No. 4 was defensive end Daron Payne.
We continue our countdown today with No. 3, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.
Four defensive linemen among Washington’s six most important players? That tells you everything you need to know about how great the defensive line is. And it begins with Allen.
The seventh-year pro is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowls and seemingly only getting better. Allen is equally as dominant against the run as he is at collapsing the pocket. Allen battles double teams on every play and still consistently makes plays.
Allen doesn’t miss a lot of time. While the Commanders love their young backups [John Ridgeway and Phidarian Mathis], they don’t want to be without Allen for any period of time. While Daron Payne is phenomenal — and only getting better — Allen is the key. Allen’s impact on the field is tremendous, and he is also one of the team leaders.
For some reason, Allen doesn’t receive enough credit for his greatness. However, analytics tell the story of Allen’s dominance. As does the eye test. There’s nothing flashy about Allen’s game, but he shows up on every play and wins.
The Commanders can’t be without Allen for any period of time.