Pro Bowl LB's contract extension is most important move of Jaguars' busy offseason

Locking up Allen is the most important move of what has been a busy offseason for Jacksonville thus far.

Though the Jaguars lost star wide receiver Calvin Ridley to the Tennessee Titans, they've added defensive end Arik Armstead, safety Darnell Savage, two-time Pro Bowl special teamer and wideout Devin Duvernay, wideout Gabriel Davis, quarterback Mac Jones, one-time Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse and cornerback Ronald Darby. 

Jacksonville has also brought back the league's leading tackler in linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland.

Fellow AFC South contenders like the Titans and Houston Texans have also had massive offseasons, while the Indianapolis Colts approach the upcoming NFL Draft with few impactful additions.

The Jaguars returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years after winning the division during the 2022 season. They lost five of their final six during the 2023 campaign, however, to miss a chance at back-to-back postseason berths for the first time since the turn of the millennium.

Allen is the team's best defensive player and at just 26 years old, it was critical to get a long-term deal done. Along with quarterback Trevor Lawrence on offense, Allen is arguably the most important player in getting Jacksonville back to the playoffs.

General manager Trent Baalke guaranteed in January that Allen would remain with the club in 2024, as the two sides negotiated a contract extension.

The former seventh overall pick made his second Pro Bowl team in 2023 (first since his 2019 rookie campaign) after shattering his previous career-best marks of quarterback hits (33), tackles for loss (17) and sacks (17.5). 

Allen's sack total was not only a franchise record, but tied for the second most in the NFL, just 1.5 behind Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt.