Jacksonville Jaguars place franchise tag on defensive end Josh Allen

The Jacksonville Jaguars are placing the 2024 franchise tag on defensive end Josh Allen on Tuesday ahead of the deadline, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The team is putting the tag on Allen for approximately $24 million while continuing talks for a long-term deal, which the team has “expressed confidence” about getting done this offseason.

This season, Allen earned his second Pro Bowl invitation while recording 66 tackles, 17.5 sacks and 33 QB hits in 2023. He set the Jaguars’ new franchise record for single-season sacks. His previous career-high of 10.5 sacks came as a rookie for Jacksonville in 2019.

The Jaguars drafted Josh Allen with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Kentucky. He became an immediate impact player for Jacksonville. After the first four years of his rookie contract ran out, the Jaguars opted to exercise his fifth-year option for $10.892 million. 

Franchise tag decisions loom large this week

Several teams announced franchise tag decisions on Tuesday before the deadline. The Cincinnati Bengals have tagged wide receiver Tee Higgins for the 2024 season. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are placing one on safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and the Panthers will use one on edge rusher Brian Burns. The Baltimore Ravens are also using a tag on defensive tackle Justin Madubuike.

The franchise tag can be used to secure a player’s contract for an additional season at the pre-set value — a number determined by averaging the top five contract amounts at that position in the league.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.