Former Boilermaker Ricardo Allen Signs With Cincinnati Bengals

After spending 7 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, former Purdue stud defensive back Ricardo Allen has found a new home. Allen signed a one year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals today to bring a veteran presence in the secondary, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

We have seen many solid NFL players be cut or released this offseason due to the lower salary cap, which included Allen being labeled a “cap casualty”. He now gets the opportunity to start fresh in a new environment, closer to the state he played his collegiate football in.

During his time in Atlanta, Ricardo grew to become a leader in the locker room and was named a team captain as well. 2020 was a down season for him compared to the success he had in 2019 being limited to just 12 games and recording 25 combined tackles with two interceptions.

Allen will now be teaming up with another former Boilermaker, Markus Bailey who is coming off his rookie year with the Bengals. Oddly enough, Allen and Bailey both wore the number 21 during their time in West Lafayette but were never on the same team. Now, two of Purdue’s best defensive players in the last decade are on the same NFL squad!

Purdue fans will always root for their former Boilermakers in the pros. Congrats to Ricardo on a new contact and good luck as he starts a new chapter. Boiler Up!