The Washington Commanders dealt Montez Sweat last October as he neared the end of his contract, and they might be approaching a similar fork in the road with another of their standout defensive linemen.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Tuesday that some around the NFL "are wondering if Washington will ever consider offers" for interior defender Jonathan Allen.

"The people I've talked to believe Washington will need to either rework his contract eventually or decide whether it will entertain trade interest, which it has rebuffed in the past," Fowler wrote.

Allen is signed for the next two years, so there isn't quite the same urgency there was when Washington sent Sweat to the Chicago Bears. But this would be a good time to trade him if the Commanders aren't sure about paying him a market-level extension. The two-time Pro Bowler could be looking at an average salary of $25 million or more based on the current climate.

Re-signing Allen would also mean tying up a lot of money in one area of the field. Washington already handed Daron Payne a four-year, $90 million deal.

When the team selected Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, it looked like a case of potential forward planning. Newton was the No. 20 overall prospect and the second-best interior lineman on Bleacher Report's big board. He's somebody who should be able to slot into a starting role before too long.

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Were the Commanders to move Allen or Payne at some point down the road, they'd already have the replacement waiting in the wings.