Jaguars sign first-round draft pick Josh Allen

Despite being kept out of practice on Thursday while dealing with a bruised knee, Jaguars 2019 first-round draft pick Josh Allen signed his rookie deal with the team.

Thursday may not have started off the best for Jacksonville Jaguars rookie pass rusher and first-round draft pick Josh Allen, but it ended up pretty well in the afternoon. The team has announced the former Kentucky star signed his first NFL contract, which means six of the seven draft picks the Jaguars made in April have agreed to terms.

Thursday morning, head coach Doug Marrone met with the media to announce that Allen would be held out of practice and would be working off to the side after sustaining a bruised knee on the first day of OTAs on Tuesday.

The plan was to keep Allen out of action, but Marrone said the team was not concerned about the injury.

The four-year deal for Allen under the NFL’s rookie slotting system, per John Reid of the Florida Times-Union, is estimated to be $21.8 million and includes a $14.6 million signing bonus.

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"″The journey began when I got drafted here, but now it’s official,” Allen said in a statement issued by the Jaguars. “Now, I get to put my head down, get to work and continue to try and be the best player I can.”"

Allen is expected to play in a pass rushing rotation that features both Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue. He did play outside linebacker for the Wildcats against top-tier talent in the SEC his senior season as well as an edge rusher. He had 17 sacks in 2018.

Marrone said the team is in no rush to get this top rookie back on the field sooner than he needs to be. This being the first week of OTAs and mandatory minicamp and coming up in the middle of June, followed by the start of training camp in July, the Jaguars can be patient with Allen, getting him time to rest if it is needed.

Allen was considered one of the top players available in the first round of the Draft and was expected to be gone when the Jaguars made the seventh selection. When teams ahead of Jacksonville moved in different directions, it was apparent the organization may have an opportunity to select him.

"“Josh Allen was very high on everyone’s board. As it was coming down, there were a number of picks in front of us where we thought he would go, but as it turned out we had some choices to make if in fact he was gone, but when he fell to us he was a superior football player and too good of a player to possibly pass up,” Tom Coughlin, the Jaguars Executive Vice-President of Football Operations said after the team made their first-round selection April 25.“As you know, you have read about him, he is outstanding athletically. He drops in coverage. He rushes the passer. He is a good ball stripper. He gives good effort.”"

The combination of Allen and Ngakoue gives Jacksonville two edge rushers who could become a dominating duo in the future.

The Jaguars will have a fifth-year option with Allen, which would allow the team to keep him for an additional season before negotiating a second contract with the organization.