Jacksonville Jaguars defensive star pass rusher Josh Allen sent general manager Trent Baalkle a strong message this week about his upcoming free agency. Allen is coming off a breakout season that saw the Edge record the second-most sacks in the league (17.5) for the 2023 season.
Per the Jaguars website, Baalke said Allen “will be a Jaguar” for the 2024 season. Baalke said the Jaguars are far from a multi-year extension with Allen, bringing up the possibility they could use the franchise tag to keep their star outside linebacker. Baalke said the Jaguars and Allen would need to find a “good” number for everyone:
“Those negotiations will start,” Baalke said. “I know Josh wants to be here. I know we want him here. Can we come to a number that works for everybody? That’s the key and I respect that. You have to respect these guys that put themselves in this position. They work hard. They deserve to make good money. What that ‘good’ means to them could be different than what it means to us.
“We just have to come together, sit down at the table and work things out.”
Allen gave his side of the contract story during a Pro Bowl event Friday. Allen was nominated for the second Pro Bowl of his NFL career this season. Per video posted on X by Justin W. Lewis with Jaxdotcom, Allen said he cared about “business” over anything else:
“What I’ve grown to understand that the NFL is, seeing it firsthand, the NFL is a business at the end of the day,” Allen said.
“So, you know, if I do what you do on the field because I love it and I play it and I respect it and I love my guys. I love the competitive nature, but at the end of the day, outside of that, it’s business. If you handle it or think about any type of way, you will get tossed out of there. So, for me, it’s let’s talk business. Let’s do it.”
Allen isn’t willing to budge about his contract. He shouldn’t, as Allen is coming off his best season in the NFL. However, that likely means Baalke will be using the franchise tag on Allen for the 2024 season. The Jaguars aren’t going to want to pay Allen’s price after a sample size of one elite season.
