4 Jaguars players who could earn massive contract extensions in 2023

No. 1 Jaguars player who may get a contract extension: Josh Allen, OLB

This list wouldn’t be complete without outside linebacker Josh Allen, who is one of those rare first-round selections former general manager Dave Calwell got right during his eight-year tenure in Jacksonville. The former Kentucky Wildcat had an impact right off the bat, logging 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during his rookie campaign.

Caldwell traded Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell in the 2020 offseason, which pressed Allen into a bigger role in his second NFL season. However, a knee injury held him back for most of the year and limited him to just eight games and a measly 2.5 sacks. Fully healthy in 2021, he was off to a strong start, registering 5.5 sacks in the first eight games. Unfortunately, he faded down the stretch. On the bright side, he posted two sacks in the season finale, showing he could play at a high level.

Allen is a player the Jaguars can build around and while he hasn’t been as consistent as the team would like, the organization didn’t put him in a position to succeed until this offseason. Jacksonville made several additions to their front seven over the last few months and with more talent up front, opposing offenses will have a tougher time neutralizing Allen. Moreover, there’s now a stabilizing presence in head coach Doug Pederson.

The Jags showed they value Allen when they picked up the fifth-year option in his rookie deal. And if he becomes the playmaker they thought he was when they drafted him seventh overall in 2019, they will have no option but to give him a massive extension next year.