Rumors of the star edge rusher leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars have finally been put to rest. Josh Allen becomes the second highest-paid player in his position with his new contract and will continue his loyalty to his draft team. While his future on the team became a question mark this offseason following a contract extension dispute, the two-time Pro Bowl athlete now returns home with a multimillion-dollar deal.

Allen was franchise-tagged last month for $24 million, unable to reach common ground with the team. As per recent reports, he finally gets his worth in figures after signing a $150 million five-year contract, with $88 million guaranteed. Though the exact cap hit the linebacker deals on the Jaguars is still unknown, one thing seems certain: Jacksonville doesn’t want to lose their franchise record-setter anytime soon.

Josh Allen will enter the 2024 season as the highest-paid edge rusher after San Francisco’s Nick Bosa with the new contract and third among overall defenders, with the Chiefs’ Chris Jones holding the second spot. He replaces the newly-retired defensive tackle of the Rams, Aaron Donald, to cement his place on the list.

The 7th overall pick of the 2019 Draft had predicted his future as a long-time asset to his draft team after becoming the first rookie in the franchise to make it to the Pro Bowl. However, his next few seasons were relatively slow-paced owing to an unfortunate knee injury. But the linebacker reminded everyone of the talent he stored last season with a career-best 17.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, along with 43 solo and 66 combined tackles.

Jacksonville’s general manager, Trent Baalke, expressed his excitement at retaining their stellar defender, calling him a “leader” and a “cornerstone” to the team’s defense.

“Josh is a true pro who has developed into one of the top-producing defensive players at his position in the NFL and a cornerstone of our defense. He is a leader on and off the field, and we are excited for Josh and his family, as well as our fanbase,” Baalke expressed, as per the Jaguars’ official website. With their lead defender back on the team, how does Jacksonville’s roster fare as the NFL Draft is two weeks away?

Will the Jaguars draft a rookie to assist Josh Allen’s defense?

After a mediocre end to the 2023 season with a record of 9-8, the Jaguars need to make a serious reassessment of their roster. With their arguably best player safely back on the defensive line, all the team needs to do is build around Josh Allen and fill all the gaps. Former 49ers’ defensive tackle Arik Armstead joins the defensive line to mend some of its holes, signing a three-year contract worth $51 million, as per ESPN. He is joined by Darnell Savage, who replaced the now-released Rayshawn Jenkins earlier this offseason.

Finally, the budding prospects in this year’s draft can’t be ignored. With the 17th pick in the first round, there are some lucrative options on the table. Firstly, there is Byron Murphy, who might be able to provide support to Armstead as a defensive lineman. The Texas product was last season’s Big 12 DL of the Year and is also being projected as the Bears’ No. 9 pick.

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If that happens, the Jaguars would still have the option of adding depth to their cornerback position by picking Quinyon Mitchell. The Toledo player has 86 tackles and eight interceptions in his college career, and his athleticism and size might prove to be a good fit in Jacksonville.

Josh Allen’s return solves one major issue for the Jaguars, and now it is time to start adding finishing touches to their defense. Only time will tell whether they will be able to secure a spot in the playoffs this upcoming season or not.

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