The Jacksonville Jaguars have had their share of big hits and misses in the NFL Draft, but edge rusher Josh Allen has proven to become one of the team’s best first-round picks in recent memory. With NFL free agency closing in, it appears the Jaguars’ front office has made its decision on Allen’s future.
Allen, the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, had his fifth-year option option exercised in 2022. After playing out the final year of his rookie contract this past season, the pass rusher is poised to become one of the best players available in NFL free agency.
- Jacksonville Jaguars cap space 2024: $24.683 million
Related: Jacksonville Jaguars may cut recently franchise-tagged player
While Jacksonville doesn’t have much cap space this year, it also can’t afford to lose Allen. During the regular season, the Jaguars defense finished with the eighth-most pressures (157) in the NFL but it only placed 25th in sacks (40).
Allen, in his age-26 season, accounted for 17.5 sacks (43.75 percent of the team’s total) and finished the year with 46 pressures (29.3 percent). It was the perfect way for the former first-round pick to head into the open market and showcased why he is a critical piece for Jacksonville.
Appearing on Sunday’s SportsCenter, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that Allen is “largely expected” to receive the franchise tag from Jacksonville this offseason. The cost of the franchise tag will be $24 million, which would eat up almost all of the team’s cap space.
The very nature of the deal should incentivize the Jaguars to work out a long-term extension with Allen. Otherwise, the team will need to restructure multiple contracts this spring and part ways with several cap casualties just to have the financial flexibility to fill out the roster.
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While the Jaguars could franchise tag Allen and then trade him, it would be a massive setback for their defense. Travon Walker, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has just 29 quarterback hits and 13.5 sacks in 32 career games. Pass rusher is also among the long list of Jaguars team needs in 2024.
Despite the downsides of using the franchise tag, it represents Jacksonville’s only guaranteed option to prevent Allen from hitting free agency. While it will prove costly, it’s the type of move a team in win-now mode needs to make.
