JACKSONVILLE – He signed the paper, making the dream a reality.
"It feels great," Josh Allen said seconds after signing his rookie NFL contract.
Allen, the No. 7 overall selection by the Jaguars in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, on Thursday afternoon became the sixth player from the team's '19 draft class to sign his rookie contract. Terms of the deal were undisclosed.
"It feels good to focus on football now, and just worry about football – and not worry about anything off the field," Allen said. "I know everything's settled in now. I'm ready for my family to get down here, and be a Jacksonville Jaguar for life.
"I'm just ready to make a name for myself in the National Football League. It's official. I'm officially a Jaguar. It feels great."
Allen missed Thursday's 2019 organized team activities practice with a bruised knee sustained in the first practice of OTAs on Tuesday. Head Coach Doug Marrone said before Thursday's OTA Day 2 practice there was "zero" concern about the injury.
"I'm good," Allen said. "It is what it is. It's football. I've never heard of anybody ever not having anything wrong with them playing a violent sport such as this one. It is what it is. I'll be back soon."
Allen's signing leaves outside linebacker Quincy Williams (Round 4, No. 98 overall) as the only unsigned player in the '19 draft class.
"I'm real excited," he said. "The journey began when I got drafted here, but now it's official. I get to put my head down and get to work. You can't go through this and not be humbled by it, especially when you have a journey such as I did.
"Now, you're here? I think of all of the people who helped me out during the process. It's just a real humbling experience. I'm just excited to be here, and I'm real thankful."
The Jaguars earlier this offseason signed five draft selections to rookie contracts: right tackle Jawaan Taylor (Round 2, No. 35 overall), tight end Josh Oliver (Round 3, No. 69 overall), running back Ryquell Armstead (Round 5, No. 140 overall), quarterback Gardner Minshew (Round 6, No. 178 overall) and defensive tackle Dontavius Russell (Round 7, No. 235 overall).
The Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Kentucky DE Josh Allen in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen carries the American flag onto the field during introductions before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/David Stephenson)
Portrait of Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen during the NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Josh Allen.
UK football beats MTSU 34-23 on Senior Day at Kroger Field.
Photo by Chet White | UK Athletics
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr., left, celebrates holding his MVP trophy with teammate linebacker Josh Allen (41) after defeating Penn State in the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) motivates the fans during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) runs during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Josh Allen (41) during the first half an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) is tackled by Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm (11) after intercepting Fromm's pass in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) stands at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) celebrate a turnover during the first half an NCAA college football game against Georgia in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) dives on the fumble of Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm (11) during the first half an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen carries the American flag as the team took the field before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/David Stephenson)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen, left, and cornerback J.D. Harmon celebrate in the final moments of the second half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/David Stephenson)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) celebrates with fans after an NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in Columbia, S.C. Kentucky defeated South Carolina 23-13. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) tackles Murray State wide receiver Rodney Castille (18) during the second half an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen (41) celebrates a missed Missouri field goal-attempt during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/David Stephenson)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen walks the red carpet ahead of the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen walks the red carpet ahead of the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Allen in the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Allen in the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Allen in the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
