Jaguars GM provides key updates on Trevor Lawrence, Pro Bowl LB

Jacksonville selected Allen with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and following a Pro Bowl rookie season, the Kentucky product missed eight games during the 2020 campaign, including six due to a knee injury. Allen bounced back in 2021 and 2022, recording 14.5 sacks over the two years, but had by far his best output in 2023.

The 26-year-old began the season with the first of his three contests where he posted 3.0 sacks (career highs). Allen later earned his third career AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor after a 2.5-sack, five-tackle, four-quarterback hit effort in Week 12 against the Houston Texans.

His 33 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks all obliterated his previous career-best marks and his sacks total set a franchise record as well. Allen added two forced fumbles, one interception and one pass defended and his sacks were tied for second-most in the NFL, just 1.5 behind Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on social media that Allen will "likely" get franchise tagged. As fellow NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe noted, this could mean that wideout Calvin Ridley reaches free agency.

New York Jets cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner posted on Tuesday that he'd like to see Gang Green target Ridley this offseason.

While Allen had his best season, Lawrence took a step back from his 2022 Pro Bowl campaign.

The 2021 No. 1 overall pick battled injuries and missed the first game of his career in Week 17. Lawrence's numbers got worse in 2023 in nearly all notable passing categories including completion percentage (65.6%), passing yards (4,016), touchdowns (21), interceptions (14) and passer rating (88.5).

Lawrence is still just 24 years old and it sounds like Baalke and company aren't too worried about the former Clemson Tiger.