Should the Bears trade for Commanders DT Jonathan Allen?

The Chicago Bears are thin at the defensive line position. General manager Ryan Poles did little to react to Justin Jones’ departure after he signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. It was Jones that led all Bears interior defenders in sacks last season with 4.5 quarterback takedowns.

Instead of reacting to Jones’ exit, Poles has instead seemingly decided to place his faith in Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens, two top-65 picks from the 2023 NFL Draft. Neither Dexter nor Pickens played particularly well as rookies, but they’ll be afforded every opportunity to secure a starting role this summer. Still, the lack of a proven difference-maker at the position makes the Bears potential candidates to acquire a veteran player through trade.

That’s precisely why the Bleacher Report is projecting a trade with the Washington Commanders that sends defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to Chicago. In the proposal, Poles sends a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fifth-round pick to Washington in exchange for Allen.

“At this point, Matt Eberflus” comment that the 3-technique is the “engine” of his defense has been well-circulated,” BR wrote. “This logic was behind defensive tackles Byron Murphy II and Jer’Zhan Newton being popular mock draft selections for the Bears. But the 2024 draft came and went, and the Bears still don’t have a dominant interior defender who can make Eberflus” system go in Chicago.”

The Bears and Commanders are familiar trade partners after Chicago acquired Montez Sweat from them in the middle of the 2023 season. That deal worked out terrifically for Poles. Allen may be viewed as surplus in Washington after they signed Daron Payne to a massive contract extension and drafted Jer’Zhan Newton.

The Bears ranked 31st in sacks throughout 2023. Acquiring Sweat from Washington was a great start towards rebuilding the defensive line. Doubling down by discussing an Allen trade with the Commanders would be worthwhile. Allen would immediately become a dominant three-tech in Chicago while reuniting with Sweat.