Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has joined his fellow 2018 NFL Draft classmates in being eligible for a veteran contract extension this summer.
Thus far, only Kolton Miller of the Las Vegas Raiders has taken advantage of that opportunity. However, other top-end players from that class will certainly follow here in the next few months. That includes quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield.
As for Allen, Bills general manager Brandon Beane noted on Tuesday that the two sides have talked. He expects talks to continue following the 2021 NFL Draft next week and potentially even into the 2022 offseason.
“Josh and I have spoken and I’ve also had one conversation with one of his representatives that we’re just going to get through the draft and then when we get to later spring, maybe summer — there’s no rush. But we’ll have some kind of conversation,” Beane said during a press conference on Tuesday. “And, listen, we would love to get Josh extended — no doubt. But it’s going to be a number that works for him and works for us, and that’s been my conversation with them. And they know the same.”
Coming off an absolutely brilliant 2020 season that saw him tally nearly 5,000 total yards with 45 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, Allen is due for an huge payday at some point soon. This is magnified by the fact that the former first-round pick led Buffalo to a 13-3 record and division title.
What might a Josh Allen contract extension look like?
We’re not yet privy to details as it relates to contract talks. However, it does seem more likely that Allen will fall in line with Deshaun Watson and other recently-extended quarterbacks to take a four or five-year deal rather than opting for the 10-year contract Patrick Mahomes signed with the Kansas City Chiefs last offseason.
As you likely already know, the quarterback market continues to reset itself on a near never-ending basis. Watson’s extension has to be seen as a starting-off point for Josh Allen in talks with the Bills.
The embattled Texans quarterback inked a four-year, $156 million contract last offseason prior to being subjected to sexual assault allegations from north of 20 women.
With the market changing at nearly every turn, Allen is obviously looking at more than Watson received — $39 million annually. In fact, he could become just the third $40 million per-season quarterback after Mahomes and Dak Prescott.
Something to the tune of five years at $210 million could make sense. It’s a high price to pay. But Allen has proven himself to be among the game’s elite quarterbacks since he was selected No. 7 overall back in 2018 from Wyoming.
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