Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Josh Allen is off to the best start of his career with seven sacks through as many games in 2023. But still he finds himself behind a familiar name on the NFL’s sack leaderboard: T.J. Watt.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ five-time Pro Bowler, three-time First Team All-Pro, and one-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has eight sacks in six games so far this season.
While it’ll be up to the Jaguars offensive line to slow down Watt on Sunday in a Week 8 contest at Acrisure Stadium, the opportunity to play against an edge rusher who has accomplished it all isn’t lost on Allen.
“T.J. Watt has been one of the best players in the National Football League for years now,” Allen said Thursday. “He’s always one of the top guys. He’s a guy that I chase after.
“That’s a little personal to me. He’s a guy where … I want to be the guy and he’s the guy. So it’s going to be a very special moment for me.”
Allen, 26, is a sack away from getting to eight in a season for the first time since his rookie year when he finished with 10.5 and a Pro Bowl nod. The strong season has come at a good time for the fifth-year rusher with his contract set to expire in 2024.
It stands to be a loaded class of free agent pass rushers next year with Danielle Hunter, Chase Young, Montez Sweat, and Brian Burns all playing on expiring contracts as well. But Allen may be the one well-positioned to get the biggest deal of them all.
Finishing his year as strong as it has started is the clear path to that kind of mega-deal for Allen. And chasing Watt up to the top of the sack leaderboard isn’t a bad way to get the job done.
