Jacksonville Jaguars’ Doug Pederson: ‘Hopefully We Can Get Something Done’ With Josh Allen
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a big decision facing them this offseason. After five productive seasons, the time has come for outside linebacker Josh Allen to get a big pay-day. A career year with 17.5 sacks — a franchise single-season record — has set the table for Allen. Now, it will take two to tango. “Obviously it’s something we’ll evaluate, but yeah the type of year he had. That’s what we expect out of him, he expects the same, so yeah if we can work it out gosh, you’d love to keep him,” Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday.
You want him to be a Jaguar forever, so these are all the tough decisions and conversations we’ve got to have in the coming weeks. He did his part and put himself in a good position to make it interesting and tough. I’m excited for the future, obviously, and hopefully we can get something done.” In 17 games this year, Allen recorded 17.5 sacks, a
career-high 33 quarterback hits, a career-high 17 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Allen also finished No. 5 among all EDGE players in pressures and No. 7 in win-rate. “I just play football. My agent does all the type of negotiating. We’ll talk when we need to talk, but at this time right now, I’m worried about getting my body back right, spending time with my family and keep focusing on what I’m going to do next year,” Allen said on Monday.
Will Allen be given the large, multi-year contract he deserves from the Jaguars? Will he be franchise-tagged? Or could the Jaguars do the unthinkable and let arguably their best player leave in free agency? The next few months
will determine the answer. “Let God be God. Never question that. Like I said, before, after, I’ve always just focused on football and did my part,” Allen said. “If I can do that then everything takes care of itself. The business is the business. We’ll have conversations down that road but at this very moment I’m really trying to get through this situation and grow from it.”
