Jonathan Allen

2 sacks and 12 tackles, 2 tfl. decent but not what he used to be

2 sacks and 9 tackles. knee is on rest days. vet who's fine, nothing crazy.

Allen is exactly the kind of proven interior defender this defense was missing. He started every game for Minnesota last year, made 68 tackles and still chipped in 3.5 sacks. The sack number is down from his best Washington seasons, but he plays with great hands, understands blocking schemes and rarely gives an offense an easy interior gap. I have him at an eight. At 31, I do not expect another nine-sack peak, but pairing his steadiness with Dexter Lawrence should completely change how offenses handle the middle of Cincinnati's front.

Strengths: Allen has polished hand use, strong leverage and the awareness to play both run and pass on the way to the quarterback. His 125 career starts and 45.5 sacks bring credibility, consistency and leadership to a rebuilt defensive line.

Weaknesses: His pass-rush finish has declined from its peak, and age could reduce the burst further. He is still disruptive but may need a managed snap count to stay fresh rather than carrying every-down volume deep into the season.