4 Pros and Cons to Jacksonville Jaguars Extending Josh Allen in 2023

Pro No. 2 – Franchise Tag could buy the Jacksonville Jaguars time

The last advantage of keeping Josh Allen is that the Jaguars could utilize their franchise tag to keep him around. There is this negative stigma when it comes to a franchise tag, but realistically, both sides win for at least another season.

This gives Allen over $ 20 million in guaranteed money while the Jaguars determine if he will be a part of the team’s future. Entering the 2023 offseason, the team’s brass has quite a bit of money out there in salaries that will need to be adjusted for the future.

But with a franchise tag, there needs to be no negotiation and Jacksonville knows they are getting a player that has consistently improved each year, a leader to the team, and at the moment one of the key members of the defense.

Con No. 1 – The Trade Market is There to Get a Deal Done Now

Entering this offseason, the buzz around teams being potentially interested in trading for the fifth-year edge rusher has already begun. Not trading Allen while teams are interested could lead to several negative impacts on the team.

First, as I have already mentioned, the Jaguars have multiple needs on defense and not jumping on a potential trade now could lead to losing out on future draft picks or other players. Second, if Allen delivers a similar season to 2022, the value that could have been gained will no longer be there and the Jaguars will be the loser in the situation.

With many teams holding onto their edge rushers this would be primetime for the Jaguars to capitalize on a needy team and bring a familiar face like Arden Key back for a bigger role or draft a replacement in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Final Thoughts

In the end, I think we see Josh Allen wear the Black and Teal beyond 2023. A franchise tag may be the most realistic option for the team until they have full confidence in his ability to be the guy they expected when he was drafted seventh overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Flashes of his elite playmaking have appeared, but overall he has remained a tier or two below the elite edge rushers in the league. With a better supporting cast around him and Walker making strides in his second season Allen could have a career year.

Of course, until 2022, Allen had yet to have a successful season as a Jaguar, so making the NFL playoffs for the first time in his career will likely give him the desire to remain as well.