CINCINNATI — Exactly 14 minutes before news broke Thursday that the Cincinnati Bengals signed defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $26 million contract, current Cincinnati defensive tackle B.J. Hill tweeted a smiley-face emoji.

Soon, everyone learned what made him so happy.

Not often does a smile accompany news that an expensive free agent has been signed to play your position. Especially for a 30-year-old mere days away from a $2 million roster bonus.

In this case, however, pairing with a player capable of complementing his game and limiting wear and tear would make any veteran smile. Especially one coming off a season he had to play through painful foot and ankle injuries that hindered his impact.

The combination of the two players in their 30s could make both more efficient and create the equivalent of a quality three-down defensive tackle in the aggregate.

As the Bengals analyzed their situation in a less-than-ideal offseason for finding answers at defensive tackle, Allen’s ability to rush the passer stood out on tape.

Allen posted modest numbers with 34 pressures and 3 1/2 sacks for the Vikings, but a vital asterisk could be seen on the tape. Allen didn’t quite mesh with defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system despite signing a three-year, $51 million contract. He spent much of the time trying to play within the blitz-heavy scheme, and that didn’t always provide ideal opportunities.

Yet, when given one-on-ones, Allen was still winning them. He might not be the same guy who posted 67 pressures and nine sacks in 2021, going to the Pro Bowl with Washington, but disruption very much existed in the eyes of the Bengals.

2025 pass rush stats

Player

  

Pressure%

  

TPS WIn%

  

PsRsh Grade

  

8.7%

11.8%

64.9

8.7%

7.1%

63.6

6.4%

6.3%

50

Allen’s not going to consistently hold his own against powerful run-blocking guards on early downs anymore. That’s the first trait Father Time weakened, but Allen proved durable while still showing strength rushing the passer. That’s all the Bengals needed to see to play directly off Hill’s skill set.

Hill shifted into an early-down run-stopping defensive tackle last year, living in the top 15 percent of qualifying defensive tackles in run-stop rate. Yet, the Bengals were searching for answers in looking for rush in passing situations. They eventually turned to Kris Jenkins, who authored a second disappointing season and one of the worst pass-rush win rates in football. He’ll move into a sink-or-swim battle for an active roster spot in his third training camp this summer.

When Hill was at his best in Cincinnati, he played in a rotation with Larry Ogunjobi in 2021. Keeping him closer to the 502 defensive snaps in that season and further away from the average of 743 snaps each season since could increase his overall impact. As Allen looks to add years to his career, the same could be said for him, considering he’s gone over 800 snaps three of the last four years and seen his efficiency start to decline.

Less is more on the field, and perhaps Allen’s personality could drive more off it.

Allen arrives with the reputation as a tone setter and locker room leader from his days in Washington, where he was a captain and two-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. De facto general manager Duke Tobin preached a need to inject leadership into his young defense, and a player such as Jenkins facing an early crossroads in his career would be a prime example, along with any draft picks dropped into the mix.

Combining Hill’s strength on early downs with Allen’s pass-rush preference and leadership, the Bengals might be able to aggregate their way to a Moneyball defensive tackle.

For today, even the hope of that is enough to make Hill flash a smile.