JACKSONVILLE – Josh Allen will be with the Jaguars next season.
Allen, an outside linebacker selected No. 7 overall by the Jaguars in the 2019 NFL Draft, on Tuesday was designated as the team's franchise player for 2024. The move restricts Allen's options in the NFL's upcoming free-agency period.
The Jaguars had until 4 p.m. Tuesday to place the tag on Allen, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on the March 13 start of the NFL's 2024 League Year.
"We were not able to reach agreement on a contract extension with Josh before today's deadline, and thus, we have tagged him," Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. "We certainly value Josh's leadership on the field, in the locker room and in the community. Our objective to keep Josh in Jacksonville in the coming years remains unchanged and negotiations will continue."
The Jaguars placed the NFL's non-exclusive franchise tag on Allen, meaning he can negotiate and sign with another team. The Jaguars would have the right to match the offer; if the Jaguars did not match the offer in that scenario, they would receive two first-round draft selections from the team that signed Allen.
If Allen signs the tag, he will play for the Jaguars next season on a one-year contract based on the average of the top NFL salaries at his position over the past five seasons. If he opts not to sign the tag, he will not play for any NFL team.
If Allen signs the tag, he and the Jaguars can continue to negotiate a long-term contract through July 15. Allen was tagged as an outside linebacker, meaning his one-year salary would be $24 million.
Allen turned in a career-best season in 2023, registering 17.5 sacks. That tied for second in the NFL this past season behind T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers with 19 and broke the previous franchise single-season sacks record of 14.5 set by defensive lineman Calais Campbell in 2017.
Allen's 95 pressures in 2023 ranked second behind Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons' 99.
Allen earned his second career Pro Bowl honor in 2023, having also earned the honor when he registered 10.5 sacks as a rookie in 2019.
Allen in five seasons has 45 career sacks, second to defensive end Tony Brackens' 55.
The Jaguars have used the franchise tag in 10 previous offseasons: Brackens (2000), safety Donovin Darious (2003-2005), tight end Marcedes Lewis (2011), kicker Josh Scobee (2012), defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (2020), left tackle Cam Robinson (2021-2022) and tight end Evan Engram (2023).
The Jaguars traded Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings before the 2020 season, with Robinson playing on the tag in 2021 and signing a long-term contract before the 2022 season. Engram signed a long-term contract before the 2023 season.
Brackens signed a long-term contract before the 2000 season, with Darius playing on the tag in 2003-2004 and signing a long-term contract before the 2005 season. Lewis and Scobee signed long-term contract before the 2011 and 2012 seasons, respectively.
