Franchise tag seems inevitable for Josh Allen

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Former Kentucky star outside linebacker Josh Allen is entering an important offseason. The top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft is giving the Jacksonville Jaguars plenty to think about.

After five years, Allen is extension eligible becoming a free agent after earning his second Pro Bowl invitation recording 66 tackles, 17.5 sacks, and 33 QB hits in 2023. The former SEC defensive player of the year had a career season and will be getting some money this offseason.

Jacksonville Jaguars general manage Trent Baalke went on record this week and confirmed that the AFC South franchise plans to bring the 26-year-old back in 2024.

“Josh Allen is going to be a Jaguar next year.” — Jaguars GM Trent Baalke

Jaguars LB Josh Allen coming off a 17.5 sack season will be a free agent.

Baalke said negotiations haven’t started yet but definitive Allen will be in JAX. Franchise tag available if they need to use it.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 25, 2024

Josh Allen and Jacksonville will now begin contract negotiations, but the franchise tag is available for the front office to use. That would mean that the Kentucky product would at least get a one-year deal that is projected to be just south of $23 million. The tag year would be fully guaranteed.

If the Jaguars do not place the tag on Allen, there should be a ton of suitors for one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. PFF has Allen as the No. 3 overall free agent trailing only defensive tackle Chris Jones (Kansas City Chiefs) and quarterback Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings).

Josh Allen is about to get a big pay day.

Former Kentucky defensive coordinator returns to the NFL

Matt House spent three seasons with the Kentucky football program. Mark Stoops hired the Michigan State alum to be the inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator in 2016. After the program moved on from D.J. Eliot, House received a promotion to defensive coordinator. After Kentucky fielded a top-15 defense in 2018, House made the jump to the NFL.

After spending three seasons (2019-21) with the Kansas City Chiefs and winning one Super Bowl ring, House returned to college football at LSU to be a defensive coordinator in the SEC again. However, House was looking for a new job after two seasons under Brian Kelly. The former Kentucky assistant is returning to the NFL.

The #Jaguars are hiring Matt House as linebackers coach, per source.

House is highly regarded around the league, having been the #Chiefs LBs coach from 2019-2021. He was most recently LSU’s DC the past two seasons as well, helping the Tigers post back-to-back 10-win seasons.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 24, 2024

House will be working under former Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen in Jacksonville. The former Kentucky assistant could very well be working with Josh Allen on the same defense again in. 2024.