He wants to be back in Jacksonville, but what if he’s not?
Starting today, the Jacksonville Jaguars officially have a decision to make.
Today marks the opening of the NFL’s franchise tag window, and the Jaguars very well could use the tag on pass rusher Josh Allen.
Of course, the Jaguars and Allen would like to come to an agreement on a long-term deal. Allen loves Jacksonville and wants to remain with the Jags.
If he is unable to return to Jacksonville, though, the Jaguars do have some options in free agency. Let’s count down the top four.
1. Bryce Huff
After his first three seasons yielded 7.5 sacks combined, New York Jets pass rusher Bryce Huff exploded for 10.0 sacks last season. He saw career highs across the board in 2023, and not just in sacks.
Huff recorded 33 pressures, 21 quarterback hits and 12 hurries. The 25-year-old is flying a bit under the radar just because he isn’t as big of a name as some of the other free agents hitting the market. But, Huff’s success last season shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Believe it or not, Huff’s pass rush win rate of 22.9 percent was second to only Micah Parsons in 2023, per Pro Football Focus. Take that stat for what it’s worth, but that has to count for something. He was brilliant, even if no one is talking about him.
Maybe one of the biggest positives about signing Huff is the fact that he will come fairly cheap, too. After just one breakout season, Huff isn’t going to command top dollar. But, his age and overall career trajectory make him a value worth spending on.
2. Chase Young
Since entering the NFL back in 2020 as the no. 2 overall pick, Chase Young has yet to fully hit his ceiling. Yet, there’s still a belief around the league that he can be a top player at his position. Last season, he finished playing the most games he’s played in a season yet, with 16. Injuries have always been a concern, and a full offseason of work following a near-full season of playing should help Young continue turning the corner.
Young’s production, on the field, has not yet matched his draft hype. But, there are still so many flashes of his brilliance that he’s worth taking a chance on. Last season, Young had more pass rush wins (55) than guys like Brian Burns, Kyle Van Noy, Jonathan Greenard, Bryce Huff, and Samson Ebukam.
After being traded to San Francisco, Young played just 58 percent of defensive snaps for the 49ers. It’s difficult to evaluate his time in San Francisco comparitively speaking, because prior to his stint with the Bay Area, he played over 80 percent of snaps in games for the Commanders last season.
Young is only set to turn 25 in April, and with as naturally-gifted as he is, I think there’s still a ceiling to be reached for a player like him.
3. Brian Burns
It seems very unlikely the Carolina Panthers are going to let go of Brian Burns in free agency this offseason, and will at least give him the franchise tag. After all, they turned down two first-round picks from the Los Angeles Rams back before the 2022 NFL trade deadline in exchange for Burns. That’s pretty telling.
The 25-year-old is a two-time Pro Bowl player and someone the Panthers have often viewed as a franchise cornerstone. A lot of his more intricate stats may not add up toward tops in the league, but Burns is a disruptor. He played for a defense that finished dead last in sacks in 2023, so with him being the one guy offensive lines can focus on stopping, he’s had a hard time proving his worth.
But make no mistake, this guy is as good as the Panthers believe he is. If he traded places with Josh Allen, there is a good chance he’d have been close to Allen’s 2023 finish in terms of sacks and overall production.
4. Danielle Hunter
One of the top overall NFL free agents available this offseason, regardless of position, is current Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter. And, rather than simply projecting certain fits with the Jaguars, let’s go off a recent report that suggests the Jaguars are going to be one of the teams in on Hunter during free agency.
The Jaguars are linked to Hunter, along with the Chicago Bears, as two of the top teams which could pursue him this offseason.
Last year, Hunter finished with a career-high 16.5 sacks. It was his fifth season finishing in double digits in that department, and on an otherwise-lackluster Vikings defense, he was the star. The Vikings likely won’t be able to pay Hunter this offseason, either, with deals for Justin Jefferson and potentially Kirk Cousins still looming.
Hunter would be an immediate difference-maker for the Jaguars, especially if they were to lose out on Allen.
Now, if they somehow were able to retain Allen and also sign Hunter? My goodness what a treat that would be for Jacksonville fans. For now, we’ll wait and see if Allen gets the tag and what happens at the start of free agency here in a few weeks.
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