The Carolina Panthers showed some promise in the first campaign under Dave Canales. After going 5-12, they need to find ways to add more talent to this roster for the 2025 season.
They will use free agency and the NFL Draft as two big avenues to improve this roster. Trades are another way teams can add playmakers, and the Panthers have the perfect opportunity to add a beast along the defensive line.
The Washington Commanders have given defensive tackle Jonathan Allen permission to seek a trade, and the Panthers should be all over this player.
Carolina needs more juice upfront after they ranked 30th in team sacks (32) and last in run defense (179.8) in 2024.
According to Spotrac, Allen has a $22.3 million cap hit for the 2025 season. The Panthers have $28 million available in cap space, so they have the funds to absorb his money. With certain cuts and contract restructures, that number could increase even more.
When it comes to trade compensation, the Panthers own eight picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, including five picks in the top four rounds.
The Panthers should offer No. 74 overall to Washington in exchange for Allen.
Allen was a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and has spent his entire eight-year career with the Commanders. In 109 career games, he's compiled 401 total tackles, 118 QB hits, 60 TFLs, and 42 sacks.
He tore his pectoral muscle in Week 6, which forced him to miss seven games. Injuries played a factor into a down year for Allen, where he finished with a 54.6 overall grade per PFF. That was the lowest grade of his career, so that could be chalked up to just one down year.
Allen is a player who can generate pressure consistently up the middle and would form a terrific duo with Derrick Brown. He's finished with at least 5.5 sacks in five seasons in his career.
The Panthers need another disruptor on the defensive line, and Allen could be the perfect addition. He's a two-time Pro Bowler (2021 & 2022) and would help stabilize the Panthers' defensive front in 2025.