The NFL’s reigning MVP, Josh Allen, turns 29 this May, and it’s clear the Buffalo Bills believe he has plenty of elite football left in him, as they recently signed him to a six-year extension. Speaking to reporters after finalizing the deal, Allen expressed his desire to spend his entire career in Buffalo.
“I try not to think about the end,” Allen said, according to The Athletic’s RJ Kraft and Joe Buscaglia. “It’s still a long way off, but absolutely, I don’t want to play anywhere else. It’s rare for players to stick with one team their whole career. This is home to me and always will be, and I’d love to keep playing here as long as I can. When it’s time to hang up the cleats, I hope it’s in Buffalo.”
Allen, drafted seventh overall by the Bills in 2018, signed a six-year, $330 million contract that some may view as a hometown discount. His $55 million average annual salary ties him for second-highest in the league, alongside Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, and Trevor Lawrence.
For comparison, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys currently holds the top spot with a $60 million average annual salary, thanks to his four-year, $240 million contract that includes $231 million guaranteed, signed last offseason. Allen’s deal, which runs two years longer, includes $250 million guaranteed.
Allen acknowledged that he likely left some money on the table in favor of helping the team. “I understood the impact of getting an extension done — creating some cap space,” Allen explained. “It’s kind of weird because I’ve already signed a big contract before, and it didn’t change my lifestyle much. But I know this gives us room to make moves, sign free agents, and improve the roster.”