A trade for Commanders lineman Jonathan Allen may be the Lions' best chance at getting in on the pre-free agency trade fun, here's the trade proposal
I don't know if you've looked outside recently, but there's a bunch of pre-free agency trades happening at the moment. The moves have prompted some Lions fans to wonder why Detroit isn't getting in on the fun. Well, there is one move that I think the Lions could potentially make ahead of free agency and […]
I don't know if you've looked outside recently, but there's a bunch of pre-free agency trades happening at the moment. The moves have prompted some Lions fans to wonder why Detroit isn't getting in on the fun.
Well, there is one move that I think the Lions could potentially make ahead of free agency and it's a trade for Commanders' defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. Just last week it was announced that the Commanders have given Allen permission to seek a trade partner. The Lions make a lot of sense as that trade partner for a few different reasons.
For starters, the Lions don't know what the timeline is on Alim McNeill's return just yet. Allen would be able to come in and start, then shift over and take DJ Reader's spot once McNeill comes back. Then the Lions suddenly have some really good interior defensive line depth.
Another reason is that the Lions could afford to make the move right now. Allen is on the last year of his deal and the team that trades for him would be taking on a $16.47 million cap hit in 2025. That is more than doable for Detroit and could be even more doable if the Lions sign him to an extension and restructure his deal. Either way, for a team with the 10th most cap space in the NFL, this one is super possible.
A fun reason is that linebackers coach Shaun Dion Hamilton is a friend and they played at Alabama together and then at Washington too. The two spent eight years playing on defense together. Getting back together in Detroit would be cool.
Here's what the trade proposal for this move would be:
Lions get: Jonathan Allen
Commanders get: 2025 fourth-round pick
Ok, here's the thinking with the move. There really haven't been any premier interior defensive linemen traded in quite a while. The inspiration for this proposal actually goes back to 2018 when the Lions traded a fifth-round pick for Damon Harrison two years removed from his All-Pro season.
Allen is 30 years old and is two years removed from his last Pro Bowl season and is coming off a year in which he missed time with a torn pectoral. Still, when he came back he was really good and good enough to change the fifth-round pick to a fourth-round pick. Don't expect the Commanders to get much higher offer than that.
For a team that wants depth and wants to win a Super Bowl, this si a good trade that doesn't completely break their back financially or trade asset wise. If I were Brad Holmes, I'd make this deal.
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