Despite registering a better season than in 2020, it didn’t feel like the Jacksonville Jaguars were a better team in 2021. A lot of that was due to how much the offense struggled under the new regime, even before factoring in the injuries the unit endured.
However, if there were some positives to take from the season it was that the defense took a step in the right direction. And while the unit was far from elite, they left fans feeling as though there was something to build on.
Among those who flashed at times was pass-rusher Josh Allen, who ended the season with his second-highest sack total (7.5) and a career-high in tackles with 71. He especially turned heads with his performance against the Buffalo Bills where he garnered a sack, forced fumble, and an interception against the quarterback Josh Allen.
Ultimately, at the end of the season, it was performances like that one and others that allowed Allen to have a Pro Football Focus grade of 78.5, which was the highest figure on the Jags’ defense. It also marked marginal improvement over his 2020 grade, which was a 69.6 (an increase of +8.9).
As a result, PFF’s Anthony Treash listed him as the Jags’ most improved player this week, though he simmered down towards the end of the season.
PFF Grade change from 2020 to 2021: 69.6 → 78.5 (+8.9)
Allen’s 0.19 PFF Wins Above Replacement in 2021 was three times more than either of his first two seasons in the NFL. The 2019 seventh overall pick started out the 2021 season hot with an 86.9 PFF grade through Week 11 — the fourth-best at the position — but teetered off down the stretch. Allen produced far more high-level reps this past season and needs to find some consistency in 2022.
Allen’s improvement comes as the team will have to decide on picking up his fifth-year option, and when looking at the state of the roster, there is little doubt that they won’t. Additionally, it appears help could be on the way for Allen as the Jags could draft Kayvon Thibodeaux or Aidan Hutchinson to help the rest of the defense get to the quarterback.
If that happens, or the Jags land a solid free agent to rush the passer like Chandler Jones or Harold Landry, Allen’s career could take off. As fans witnessed when the Jags had other Pro Bowl-caliber players in the trenches with him like Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell, Allen has the skills to be a solid No. 2 edge-rusher, but will struggle with consistency as the No. 1.