Linebacker Josh Allen has given his all to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Allen has established himself in Northern Florida since being selected seventh overall in the 2019 draft. Over five seasons, the former University of Kentucky standout has made 251 total stops, 103 quarterback hits, 53 tackles for loss, 45 sacks, and nine forced fumbles.
Allen’s excellent level of play led to the Jaguars picking up his fifth-year option, which guarantees a $10.9 million salary for the linebacker.
in 2023. The lack of a long-term contract fueled Allen’s performance in the 2023 season, which was his finest yet. Allen emerged as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, recording 66 tackles, 33 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks.
You can imagine Allen’s disappointment when his career-best numbers weren’t enough to land a long-term contract. Instead, the Jaguars decided to franchise tag the linebacker, offering a one-year, $24 million contract. The franchise tag is sometimes utilized to secure a player for an additional year while contract discussions are ongoing. This has not been the case in Jacksonville, though.
After news broke of the Houston Texans trading for four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs, Allen let his frustration out on X, liking a post about the Jaguars’ lack of commitment to making a serious playoff run. The post brings up multiple points about building a promising future in Jacksonville, one of them being that the team needs to commit to Allen long-term.
To make matters more frustrating for Allen, he gets to face a scary Houston Texans team twice per season as AFC South opponents. In 2023, the Texans became one of the league’s most exciting franchises with standout rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud at the helm. In a last-minute turn of events, the Texans clinched the division while the Jaguars were kicked out of playoff contention. Allen believes the Jaguars might face similar consequences in 2024 if they do not commit to making bold decisions and putting their all into the team.
Leave a Reply