You’ve seen the numbers. If you’re a Minnesota Vikings fan or just someone who’s used to the absolute brick wall that was the Washington defensive front a few years ago, seeing the Jonathan Allen Madden rating dip into the low 80s feels like a glitch in the matrix. It wasn't that long ago that Allen was a perennial 90-plus OVR player, a guy who could single-handedly ruin an opponent's run game in Franchise Mode.
Honestly? The ratings adjusters aren't just being mean.
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The reality of the NFL is that life comes at you fast once you hit 30. For Jonathan Allen, the transition from the Washington Commanders to the Minnesota Vikings in 2025 brought about a statistical shift that EA Sports simply couldn't ignore. We are looking at a player who was once the sixth-highest-rated DT in the entire league (Madden 24) now fighting to stay in the conversation of "elite" interior defenders.
The Breakdown: What is Jonathan Allen’s Rating Right Now?
In the latest rosters for Madden 26, Jonathan Allen carries a Core 81 OVR.
If you’re playing Madden Ultimate Team (MUT), you might find some variance. He has an 83 OVR Field Pass card that dropped back in September 2025, which gives him a slight boost in speed and power moves, but the base version of the player is a far cry from his Madden 23/24 peak.
Look at these specific traits from his current profile:
- Tackle: 95 (Still elite, he hasn't forgotten how to bring people down).
- Strength: 84-85 (A notable drop from the 93 he carried in previous years).
- Power Moves: 88.
- Speed: 59-61 (This is the "tread on the tires" factor).
It’s a weird stat line. How does a guy keep a 95 tackle rating but see his strength and overall effectiveness fall off a cliff? Basically, it’s a reflection of a player who still has the technique and the "high motor" trait but perhaps lacks the raw, explosive dominance that defined his Pro Bowl years in 2021 and 2022.
From 92 to 81: A Dramatic Slide
Let’s talk about the history because it helps explain why users are so frustrated. In Madden 24, Allen was a 92 OVR. He was a monster. He had 93 Power Moves and 95 Play Recognition. You could leave him on an island against almost any guard in the game and he’d find his way to the quarterback.
Then came the 2024 season.
Allen’s production in Washington started to dip before his release in March 2025. He went from 9.0 sacks in 2021 to 5.5 in 2023, and then things got even quieter in 2024 before the trade/release drama. By the time he landed with the Vikings for the 2025 season, the Madden "Ratings Snitch" was already hovering.
During his 2025 campaign with Minnesota, he recorded 68 combined tackles and 3.5 sacks. Those are respectable numbers for a 30-year-old defensive tackle, but they aren't "90 OVR" numbers. PFF actually ranked him 86th out of 134 interior defenders in 2025 with a 53.2 grade. When the real-world analytics are that harsh, the Madden rating is going to follow suit.
Why the Vikings Version of Allen Hits Differently
If you’re using the Vikings in a 2026 Franchise run, you have to change how you use him. In the old days, Allen was a "set it and forget it" DT. Now? He’s sort of a specialist.
His 81 OVR version is labeled as a Power Rusher. Even with the lower overall, he still possesses the "Inside Stuff" and "Under Pressure" superstar abilities in some modes. This means he can still shed blocks against inside zone runs. He just won’t do it every single play.
The biggest hit to his utility is the speed. A 59 speed rating for a DT in the modern Madden meta is tough. If a quarterback like Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels breaks the pocket, Allen is essentially a spectator. You’re relying on his 79 Play Recognition to hope he’s in the right spot at the right time.
The "Arthritis" Factor and Longevity
There’s also the "expert" context most people forget. Coming out of Alabama, there were always concerns about Allen’s shoulders. He’s been incredibly durable for most of his career, but we’re now nine years into his pro journey.
NFL teams—and by extension, the guys at EA—start looking at that 30-year-old milestone with a lot of skepticism. His 85 Toughness and 92 Injury ratings in Madden 26 suggest he’s still reliable for a full season, but the "pop" in his initial contact isn't what it was during the 2021 season when he had 30 QB hits.
Is He Still Worth Starting in MUT?
For those of you grinding Ultimate Team, the Jonathan Allen Madden rating of 81-83 makes him a budget beast at best.
If you’re running a Vikings Theme Team, you don’t have much of a choice. You’re plugging him in for the chemistry boosts. However, if you are looking for a competitive interior pass rusher, there are simply better options with higher Block Shed (BSH) stats. Allen’s BSH currently sits around 72-76, which is a massive liability against high-end offensive lines.
That said, he still has the "Bull Rush" move trait. If you’re a fan of manualing your DTs, you can still get some mileage out of him by timing the snap and using that 88 Power Move. It just takes more work than it used to.
How to Maximize an 81 OVR Jonathan Allen
- Slide him to the 1-Tech: Don’t ask him to be your primary 3-technique pass rusher. Put him in a position where his 95 Tackle rating can shine in the run game.
- Abilities Matter: If you have the AP to spare, "Inside Stuff" is the only thing keeping this card relevant in higher-tier play.
- Sub-Packages: Use him in 4-3 heavy sets but sub him out for faster, younger ends if you’re expecting a long-developing pass play.
The Reality Check
It’s hard to see a favorite player decline. Jonathan Allen was the heartbeat of the Washington defense for nearly a decade. Seeing him as an 81 OVR in a Vikings jersey feels "wrong" to a lot of NFC East fans.
But Madden ratings are a "what have you done for me lately" business. With 3.5 sacks and a middling PFF grade in 2025, an 81 is actually quite fair. He’s no longer the game-wrecker who demands a double team on every snap. He’s a veteran presence who can still tackle anything that comes within a three-yard radius.
If you want to see that rating go back up, he’s going to need a resurgent 2026 season with more "splash" plays—forced fumbles, TFLs, and getting that sack count back into the 7-8 range. Until then, he’s a solid, if unspectacular, piece of the Minnesota rotation.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the weekly roster updates during the 2026 season. If Allen starts the year with a high pressure rate in Minnesota's scheme, EA is usually quick to bump those Power Move and Awareness stats back into the mid-80s. For now, focus on using his high tackle floor to stabilize your run defense rather than expecting him to be your primary source of pressure.