After spending the first eight years of his NFL career with the Washington Commanders, the team that drafted him in the first round in 2017, former Alabama star Jonathan Allen has found his new home. The Commanders chose to release Allen late last week to save $15 million against the cap. The former Pro Bowler has seen a decline in his play the last couple of seasons and recently turned 30 years old. He still had a robust market, however, and just landed a big contract from a team that obviously believes he still has a lot left in the tank.

The Minnesota Vikings have signed Allen to a three-year, $60 million contract. Allen will help improve the interior of the Vikings’ defense, which is stacked with quality edge rushers. With Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in charge, he should have a lot more one-on-one opportunities. Allen had a very successful career while in Tuscaloosa. He was a member of the 2015 National Championship team, and in 2016 he had one of the most dominant defensive seasons in Crimson Tide history. Allen finished seventh in the Heisman voting as a defensive lineman, winning the Nagurski, Bednarik, and Lombardi Awards, as well as being named a unanimous All-American. An Alabama football flavor in Minnesota.

Prior to last season, the Vikings had no former Alabama players on their roster. They added Dallas Turner and Will Reichard in the draft last season, traded for Cam Robinson in the middle of the season, and have now signed two former Alabama players in free agency this year. On Monday, the Vikings and Ryan Kelly agreed to a two-year contract. Kelly and Allen were teammates on Alabama’s 2015 National Championship squad and have reunited in the pros. It remains to be seen whether the Vikings will bring back Robinson to join the four other Alabama players currently on the roster. He is an unrestricted free agent who is testing the market. This free agency cycle has already seen significant investment in offensive tackles, so don’t don’t be surprised if a team in desperate need of offensive line upgrades throws a big back at Robinson that the Vikings can’t afford to match.