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Ben Arthur
AFC South Reporter
There’s more quarterback talent than ever before in the NFL, particularly in the AFC. And no other division in the league has more upside at the position than the AFC South. The Texans, Jaguars, Colts and Titans all have young, rising quarterbacks under age 25.
So it’s paramount that the franchises not only build around them offensively, but also do what’s necessary defensively to slow down the QBs who play for their rivals.
With that in mind, Jacksonville made a no-brainer, long-term investment on Wednesday.
In agreeing to terms with star edge rusher Josh Allen on a five-year, $150 deal that includes $88 million guaranteed, the largest contract in franchise history, the Jaguars took a major step toward assuring that they’ll have a competitive pass rush for the foreseeable future.
Allen, who had a team-record 17.5 sacks last season, combined with former No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker to lead all NFL duos with 27.5 sacks in 2023. Factoring in that Walker should continue to develop (he went from 3.5 sacks as a rookie to 10 last season), a new threat from the interior in free-agent acquisition Arik Armstead (the veteran 49ers defensive tackle signed a three-year, $43.5 deal last month) and a defensive-line specialist in new coordinator Ryan Nielsen, the Jaguars should compete with the Texans for the best pass rush in the division.
Health-enabling, the trio of Allen, Walker and Armstead could play together for at least the next two seasons. They form the foundation of a defensive line that should also be strong against the run. The Jags struggled to defend the rush late last season, and that played a key role in the team’s collapse.
Allen had a career-high 49 stops in 2023. And of the 62 edge rushers who played at least 500 snaps last season, he ranked just outside the top third with a 5.8% stop rate, according to Next Gen Stats.
On top of extending Allen and signing Armstead,…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/jaguars-lock-in-cornerstone-josh-allen-is-trevor-lawrence-next
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Publish date : 2024-04-10 17:39:09
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