5 contract extension candidates the Jaguars must lock up now

No. 2 Jaguars contract extension candidate: Josh Allen, OLB

Former Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell was given the boot near the end of the 2020 season because of his abysmal record in the draft and his inability to constantly replenish the roster. However, he had a few hits and one of them was outside linebacker Josh Allen, the seventh overall pick in the 2019 Player Selection Meeting.

Right off the bat, Allen had an impact. He logged 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles as a rookie. However, he struggled with a knee injury in 2020 that hindered his performance and forced him to miss eight games. The former Kentucky Wildcat was back last year and was outright dominant at times. He was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after pulling off a hat trick against the Buffalo Bills. Similarly, he made a key stop in the Jags’ win over the Miami Dolphins.

On the other hand, Allen was inconsistent at times in 2021. Nevertheless, the Jaguars’ brass recognize his importance to their defensive success and picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal just before the draft.

Allen has been his old self in 2022 and has already logged two sacks and one forced fumble. He and rookie Travon Walker give the Jaguars’ a stout pass rush duo and it would be a good idea to keep the veteran and team captain for years to come. He’s under contract until next year but re-signing him would give the front office some cap flexibility.