Jared Allen Downplays Importance of OTAs for NFL Players

Former NFL great Jared Allen believes that fans should not be concerned about players skipping organized team activities (OTAs), as he had some of his best seasons without participating in them.

Jared Allen, a former five-time Pro Bowl defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs, recently appeared on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich" to discuss the importance of OTAs in the NFL. Allen, who played for 12 seasons and struck fear into opposing quarterbacks, believes that OTAs are not as crucial as some fans may think.

"Absolutely not," Allen said when asked if fans should be concerned about players skipping OTAs. "I had some of my best seasons not doing OTAs."

Allen explained that OTAs are primarily for getting rust off and are not a good indicator of how a player will perform during the regular season.

"OTAs are good for getting rust off. You're out there in helmets, you're not doing much. It's a glorified workout, basically," Allen said. "I wouldn't stress too much about it if I was a fan."

Allen emphasized that different players have different needs and preferences when it comes to offseason training.

"This time of year, you got to trust your players and each person is different. Some people need a stronger workload to be ready, some don't. Some people need a training camp, some don't," Allen said. "I think it's up to the individual and what's best for them."

Allen's comments come as some NFL players have chosen to skip OTAs this year, including Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson reportedly cost himself a significant amount of money by missing some of the team's workouts.

Allen believes that teams can find other ways to stay sharp and prepare for the season without putting their players at risk.

"I think you can do a lot of things in the offseason without it being on the field," Allen said. "You can have guys meet, go over football-related things, but you don't necessarily have to put them at risk."

OTAs for most NFL teams conclude this week, with mandatory minicamps starting immediately afterward. Training camp is still more than a month away, followed by the preseason.

Allen's opinion on the importance of OTAs is likely to resonate with some players and fans. While OTAs can provide an opportunity for players to get acclimated to their team's system and work on their conditioning, it is ultimately up to individual players to decide what is best for their preparation.