The Jacksonville Jaguars have been one of the NFL’s biggest spenders this offseason, and that continued this week as they spent big on an extension that will keep one of their best defensive players in Duval County through the rest of the decade.
Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Josh Allen agreed to a five-year $150 million extension with the team Wednesday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter had the news first.
Pro Bowl LB Josh Allen reached agreement on a five-year, $150 million contract that includes $88 million guaranteed, sources tell ESPN.
Allen had a Jaguars franchise-record 17.5 sacks last season.
The deal was negotiated by @WME_Sports. pic.twitter.com/FMoLSeTSvJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 10, 2024
Jacksonville franchise tagged Allen in March in the hopes that they could get a deal done, and it’s now been completed. As Schefter notes, $88 million is guaranteed. Allen is now the third-highest-paid defensive player in the NFL in terms of average annual value. His $30 million per season trails just Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones ($31.5 million) and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa ($34.5 million) for most in the league.
Allen broke Jacksonville’s single-season sack record last year with his 17.5 sacks. He finished second in the league behind Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt who had 19 sacks.
Allen’s big season also shot him up the Jacksonville franchise leaderboard, putting him second all-time in franchise history with 45 career sacks, just ten off of Tony Brackens’ 55, a record Allen will break as soon as this season.
The 27-year-old has anchored Jacksonville’s defense since the team selected him seventh overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, and will now continue to fill the role for the immediate future.
