NFL writer proposes trade of one of the Commanders' top stars

We are less than one week away from the beginning of the 2024 NFL season. On Thursday Night Football, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens.

Last week, all 32 NFL teams finalized their initial 53-man rosters. We say initial because that’s the first 53-man roster for every team, which changes frequently. Since last week, most teams have already made moves.

The Washington Commanders have made two moves since finalizing their 53-man roster. On Wednesday, the Commanders traded defensive tackle John Ridgeway to the New Orleans Saints for a 2025 draft pick.

Washington initially kept five defensive tackles on its roster: Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Johnny Newton, Ridgeway and Phidarian Mathis. With needs elsewhere, it made sense for the Commanders to deal someone from their strongest position.

However, one NFL writer thinks Washington should make one more before November’s trade deadline.

Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report names five trades that should happen at some point this season. He thinks the Commanders should deal Allen to the Houston Texans.

Here’s his explanation:

The Houston Texans are in the perfect spot to get aggressive with trades. Just look at what they did to acquire Stefon Diggs this offseason.

With C.J. Stroud in just the second year of a rookie contract, the Texans have plenty of cap flexibility to add some expensive veterans. They’ve already shown they understand that by trading for Diggs and signing Danielle Hunter this offseason.

They could take it a step further by targeting Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen in a trade.

Allen would instantly upgrade a weak area for the Texans. With Will Anderson Jr. and Hunter coming off the edge, Allen would bring a little more punch to the interior than the current combination of Folorunso Fatukasi and Mario Edwards Jr.

Allen’s 5.5 sacks was more than Fatukasi and Edwards had combined last season.

From the Commanders perspective, the biggest goal right now is to put the best offense on the field with Jayden Daniels. They paid Daron Payne this offseason and drafted Jer’Zhan Newton in the second round of this draft.

Continuing to pay that kind of premium at defensive tackle might not be the wisest move for a rebuilding roster.

He makes some good points here. Who knows where Washington will be in November? The Commanders could have traded Allen in the offseason but didn’t for multiple reasons. First, he’s one of the team’s top players, and they do not want to be picking in the top five again in 2025. Head coach Dan Quinn thinks Allen and Payne together in his scheme can wreak havoc and instantly turn Washington’s defense around.

Allen’s contract has two years remaining and no guaranteed money. Washington’s salary cap is in terrific shape, so they do not need to move Allen.

If the Commanders are struggling in November and Newton is healthy and playing well, Allen’s situation could be one to watch. Washington traded defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at last year’s deadline and dealt 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson less than two weeks ago. General manager Adam Peters is always looking to improve the team while maintaining future flexibility.