The Stefon Diggs trade impacted just about every player in the league in some way, shape, or form, and that includes Josh Allen. No, the other one. While the Bills quarterback will need time to adjust to life without his All-Pro wide receiver, the Jaguars pass rusher is frustrated that his team is continuing to fall behind the Houston Texans. At this point last year, Jacksonville was supposed to be the next big thing in the AFC South. Trevor Lawrence looked like the best quarterback in the division by a country mile, and Jacksonville was in a position to establish itself as one of the top teams in the conference.
Ultimately, that didn’t happen, as the Jaguars took a step back in 2023. The team collapsed down the stretch, missing the playoffs as rookie phenomenon C.J. Stroud won the division in Week 18. Following the breakout season, Houston spent the past few weeks going all-in on making the most of Stroud’s rookie contract. Josh Allen recently liked a tweet criticizing the Jaguars for not doing the same thing with Lawrence, which suggests he could want a trade.
Josh Allen Frustrated With Jaguars, Trade Request Incoming?
The lack of free agent activity is only one reason why Josh Allen might request a trade. Following a monster 2023 season where he recorded 17.5 sacks, the former first-round pick was supposed to become a free agent at the start of the 2024 league year. That didn’t happen, as the Jaguars used the franchise tag to keep him around for an additional season.
As of this posting, the two sides have yet to agree on a long-term deal. Allen is one of the best pass rushers in the game and, barring injury will earn a massive payday whenever he receives his inevitable extension. However, the NFL is a vicious game and every single player is one bad snap away from ending their careers. It makes sense for Josh Allen to request a trade if the Jaguars aren’t willing to give him the financial security he deserves, and plenty of teams should be interested in the pass rusher.
Possible Team Fits
New England Patriots
The Patriots are officially entering a rebuild with Jerod Mayo taking over for Bill Belichick. With the most cap space in the league, New England is determined to rebuild with youth rather than throwing money at expensive free agents. Josh Allen might not be a homegrown talent, but the Patriots should be willing to trade for the young star. The Patriots have a great defensive tackle in Christian Barmore, and perhaps the Patriots would be willing to trade Matthew Judon and a second-round pick for Allen’s services.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens had the most talented roster in football last year, but that probably won’t be the case in 2024. Entering the offseason with minimal cap space, the team lost several key free agents to the open market, including edge defender Jadeveon Clowney. Josh Allen is a considerably better player than Clowney, and a trade would easily offset all the defensive losses on the team. While Baltimore would need to get creative to make the money work, this would be a perfect fit.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are in the midst of their Super Bowl window, and they have to act now if they want to win it all. While the offense has all the pieces to bring home a title, the defense could use some reinforcements. Aidan Hutchinson is a phenomenal player and Marcus Davenport is a good low-risk signing, but a Josh Allen trade could take this team to the next level. Detroit narrowly missed the Super Bowl last year, and Allen could put them on the game’s biggest stage.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders entered the offseason with the most cap space in the league, and they put that money to good use. While the team added a good amount of game-changing players, there is a reason this team ended up with the second-overall pick. Even with all the spending, Washington could still use another pass rusher, and a Josh Allen trade could help this team compete in a crowded NFC East. The Commanders have a decent enough offense, all they need now is a defense that won’t surrender over 30 points per game.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are the masters at manipulating the salary cap, so if they want to trade for Josh Allen, they’ll find a way to get it done. This team still needs more help on the edge, as Chase Young is nothing more than a high-risk, high-reward short-term signing. With Cameron Jordan getting up there in age, the Saints need to find their heir to the throne. Dennis Allen will be out of a job if he can’t make the playoffs, so he shouldn’t be too worried about the long-term consequences of sending over a pick for the star defensive lineman.
Main Photo: Bob Self – USA Today Sports
