Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen has signed a massive five-year contract extension to remain with the team through the 2028 season. Allen, who was the Jaguars’ No. 7 overall pick in 2019, has signed a $150 million extension with $88 million guaranteed, via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The extension comes after the Jaguars exercised his fifth-year option to keep him through the 2023 season. To ensure Allen didn’t test the free agency market, the Jaguars placed the franchise tag on him earlier this offseason.
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Allen’s deal resets the market for outside linebackers, as he becomes the highest paid linebacker in the NFL, making an average salary of $30 million per year. Allen is now the third-highest paid defender in the league, trailing only San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Bosa, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, signed a $170 million contract with $122.5 million guaranteed before the start of last year. Meanwhile, Jones signed a five-year, $158.75 million deal with $101 million guaranteed almost a month ago. His deal tops fellow outside linebackers Brian Burns and T.J. Watt, who make around $28 million per year on their current deals.
While Allen is the lesser known “Josh Allen” of the two NFL players who share the same name, he’s emerged as a great player in his own right. Allen has made two Pro Bowls during his career, including this past season. Ironically, one of Allen’s best games has come against the Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen back in 2021, when the linebacker had one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery in the Jaguars’ 9-6 win over the Bills.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound rusher is coming off a career-year in which he notched a career-high 17.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception and 66 tackles. His 17.5 sacks were tied with Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson for the second-most in the NFL, only behind Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt, who recorded 19.
The timing of Allen’s career-year could not have been better, as he put together his best season during a contract year. Now, he’ll look to help the Jaguars improve off a disappointing 9-8 season in which they missed the playoffs after making them the season before. The Jaguars lost five of their last six games of the regular season after starting the year 8-3, costing them a chance at both the AFC South division and a playoff appearance.
Allen caps off a big offseason for the Jaguars, who added former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead and former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis in free agency. They also have the No. 17 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
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