The Minnesota Vikings have made major moves in free agency, addressing key areas of need, particularly along the defensive line. With their quarterback situation still uncertain, the team opted to shore up the trenches, adding defensive tackles to bolster their front seven.
While these acquisitions improve the team’s defensive capabilities, the price tag attached to the moves has raised some eyebrows among analysts and fans.
Questions Arise Over Defensive Tackle’s Contract
Among those scrutinizing the Vikings’ spending is ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak, who questioned whether Minnesota may have overpaid for the veteran, a former Washington Commanders standout.
“I didn’t love: Just how much Jonathan Allen cost. In general, double-dipping at 3-technique opposite Harrison Phillips is a shrewd approach, and both Allen and Hargrave can provide an immediate impact,” Solak wrote on March 26. “I did not, however, expect Allen to tip the financial scales at $17 million per year. The entire defensive tackle market came in above my expectation, so perhaps this was just the cost of doing business.”
Minnesota’s Defensive Line Payroll Sees Huge Jump
Minnesota’s aggressive approach has led to a significant jump in defensive line spending. According to Spotrac, the Vikings now have the seventh-highest payroll allocated to their defensive front after ranking just 28th in 2024. This rapid increase in investment signals the team’s commitment to revamping its defense, but it also comes with expectations that the unit must deliver high-level performance in 2025.
Jonathan Allen Labeled Vikings’ ‘Most Overpaid Player’
Solak is not the only one raising concerns about Allen’s contract. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon echoed these sentiments, naming Allen as the Vikings’ most overpaid player following free agency.
“At 30 years old and seemingly past his prime after two consecutive seasons of decline, Allen somehow managed to land a three-year, $51 million deal with Minnesota,” Gagnon wrote on March 26. “It’s simply way too much money considering his trajectory and recent injury history.”
Allen, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with Washington, has been a solid contributor in the past. However, concerns about his long-term durability and declining production make his high salary a controversial topic among analysts.
Hargrave Also Carries a Significant Price Tag
Jonathan Allen is not the only high-priced addition to the Vikings’ defensive line. The team also secured veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave on a multi-year contract worth $15 million annually. While his addition is expected to fortify Minnesota’s run defense and pass rush, Solak and others have noted that both Allen and Hargrave came at a higher cost than anticipated.
“Allen is now the 15th-highest-paid defensive tackle in the league, and Hargrave ranks 18th. While the theory behind the approach is sound, I just wish it came at a smaller price tag,” Solak added.
Vikings’ General Manager Defends Roster Construction
Despite outside concerns, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has stood by the team’s aggressive approach to roster building. The Vikings are clearly trying to build a strong foundation around a young quarterback, making defense a key area of focus.
Minnesota’s defensive front was already a top-tier unit in 2024, ranking No. 2 against the run and fifth in scoring defense. The additions of Allen and Hargrave should further strengthen their ability to dominate in the trenches, providing stability as they navigate a transition at quarterback.
Jonathan Allen Looking to Make an Immediate Impact
Despite questions over his contract and long-term durability, Allen is eager to prove he can still be a game-changing presence on the defensive line. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, who was previously with the Washington Commanders when Allen was drafted, has a strong relationship with the defensive tackle.
In a recent interview with Rich Eisen, Allen expressed his excitement about joining the Vikings and credited the team’s culture as a deciding factor in his free agency decision.
“Super excited – super, super excited – to be part of this new team and reunite with Coach O’Connell,” Allen told Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show on March 28.
“The NFL is already hard enough, you know what I mean? Nobody wants to go to work with an organization where guys are only showing up for paychecks, they’re only worried about personal numbers, and the culture is just not really what it needs to be to win. It’s hard to win without a good culture.
“So when I talked to Coach O’Connell and [defensive coordinator Brian] Flores, and just all the guys over there in Minnesota, it really felt like they were building something special, and they had built something special, and I just wanted to be a part of that.”
Vikings Banking on Big Defensive Upgrades Paying Off
With Allen and Hargrave anchoring the interior of the defensive line, the Vikings are hoping their significant investment translates into elite production in 2025 and beyond.
As Minnesota prepares for a new era at quarterback, their improved defensive front could be the key to maintaining competitiveness in the highly competitive NFC North.
However, whether their hefty spending spree on defensive linemen will ultimately pay off remains to be seen.
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