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Jaguars place non-exclusive franchise tag on OLB Josh Allen. Here's what it means
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- Jaguars place non-exclusive franchise tag on OLB Josh Allen. Here's what it means
The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on outside linebacker Josh Allen , preventing him from hitting free agency March 13, the start of the new league year. The team announced the transaction just before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline.
"We were not able to reach an agreement on a contract extension with Josh [Allen] before today's deadline, and thus, we have tagged him," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said Tuesday. "We certainly value Josh's leadership on the field, in the locker room and in the community. Our objective to keep Josh in Jacksonville in the coming years remains unchanged and negotiations will continue."
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The tag virtually ensures Allen will remain a Jaguar in 2024 and allows Allen to sign a one-year, fully guaranteed $24,007,000 deal with the Jaguars as is the value of the franchise tag for a linebacker in 2024.
Teams can negotiate with Allen and sign him to an offer sheet, however, the Jaguars will have the right of first refusal and be compensated with two first-round picks as a result of the signing if they let Allen go.
Bottom line: Allen will be with the Jaguars in 2024 as general manager Trent Baalke promised in late January.
Allen is coming off the best season of his career, accounting for 17.5 sacks, 66 total tackles, 33 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and an interception. He played last year on the fifth-year option.
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Allen made the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career this year, his first being named to the initial roster alongside Khalil Mack and T.J. Watt .
Allen was drafted by the Jaguars with the seventh-overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Since being drafted by the team, he's soared to second on the team's all-time sack-leader list behind Tony Brackens. Allen has 45 career sacks with the club. He needs 10 to tie Brackens, who played for the Jaguars from 1996-04.
Oct 1, 2023; London, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen (41) leaves the field after the second half of an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
At the NFL Scouting Combine last week, Baalke indicated the team was actively in negotiations with Allen and his agent, Joel Segal. The two were slated to meet again in person while in Indianapolis last week. Baalke was set to meet with multiple agents of impending Jaguars free agents to work toward deals.
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"Working. That's an ongoing discussion we're having with his agent. In fact, later today I'm going to have another meeting with him as well. Just ongoing," Baalke said when asked about Allen's status with the team.
With the franchise tag now applied, the Jaguars have until mid-July to work out a long-term contract agreement with Allen, otherwise, he will have to play in 2024 on a one-year deal before being tagged again next year at a higher level or becoming an unrestricted free agent.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Josh Allen gets franchise tag from Jaguars ahead of deadline
