Jaguars GM reportedly annoys star player’s camp with contract comments

Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke during Friday afternoon’s press conference at TIAA Bank Field. After his arrival in Jacksonville, Florida Friday morning, April 30, 2021, Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick Trevor Lawrence along with team owner Shad Khan, head coach Urban Meyer and the Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke held a press conference in the afternoon inside TIAA Bank Field. They were also joined by the Jaguars 25th pick in the first round of the draft and former Clemson teammate of Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
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The Jacksonville Jaguars may be alienating one of their star players before they even have the chance to open contract negotiations.

Standout Jaguars pass rusher Josh Allen is set to become a free agent this offseason, and the two sides have yet to discuss a long-term deal. That did not stop general manager Trent Baalke from saying publicly on Thursday that the organizational plan is for Allen to “be a Jaguar.”

These comments may not have had the intended effect. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Allen’s camp is unhappy that Baalke opened up to the media about the state of negotiations without first discussing a new deal with them. Allen is ready to discuss a deal, and his camp is confused why Baalke has not come to them while simultaneously discussing his status with the media.

Allen is coming off a career-high 17.5 sacks and is certainly in line for a major deal. At this rate, he may be forced to settle for the franchise tag. If that further alienates his camp, Baalke may find his unpopularity among Jaguars fans deepening even further.