The Commanders are making Jonathan Allen available this offseason, but the 49ers don't need to be a team willing to bite.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Washington Commanders are looking to move Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen this offseason.
Whether it comes by way of a trade or an outright release so he can sign where he wants is anyone's guess.
The #Commanders have had trade conversations centered around Pro Bowl DL Jonathan Allen, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 25, 2025
Washington plans to do right by the player & Allen’s camp is involved in helping him land at the right spot — either via trade or free agency. He has one year left at $15M. pic.twitter.com/DNcQxWFACY
But, not unlike the San Francisco 49ers' current situation with wide receiver Deebo Samuel, it appears as if Washington will heed Allen's wishes to play elsewhere in 2025.
Speaking of the Niners, they could use talent on the interior of their defensive line. Already expected to release Pro Bowl defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in a cap-saving measure, San Francisco's D-line interior is thin and lacking talent.
On the surface, grabbing Allen would help solve that issue. After playing under head coach Dan Quinn's defense last year, moving to a nearly identical scheme under 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh in 2025 should be pretty seamless.
Plus, taking on a post-trade cap hit of just over $16 million wouldn't hurt the Niners' pocketbook that much, right?
All that might be true, but there are a few philosophical problems with the Niners pursuing Allen.
49ers targeting Jonathan Allen doesn't jive with new modus operandi
Aging, expensive players aren't the targets San Francisco wants to go after this offseason.
General manager John Lynch essentially confirmed as much when speaking from the NFL Combine.
"We need to get younger," Lynch said. "I think we’re the oldest team in football trying to make a run at the deal last year. And I think it’s good to constantly get younger."
The 49ers were also beset by a swarm of injuries in 2024, including Hargrave suffering a torn triceps early in the season that effectively ended his campaign last year.
Related story: Commanders moving on from Jonathan Allen is the right call
The 30-year-old Allen dealt with a torn pectoral that limited him to just eight games. So, from that vantage point, the Niners would merely be dropping one aging veteran coming off a serious injury for another if they went after the soon-to-be former Commander.
Casting further doubt on San Francisco's prospects for Allen, this year's NFL Draft is deep with defensive linemen, meaning the 49ers can take multiple shots at landing a quality interior defender who'd check off both boxes for youth and affordability.
Adding Allen simply doesn't jive with what Lynch and the Niners want to do this offseason.