The Washington Redskins have exercised their fifth-year option on the contract of defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, the NFL team announced on Monday.

The four-year rookie contracts of NFL first-round draft picks include a team option for a fifth season. The former Alabama All-American entered the NFL as the 17th player picked in the 2017 draft.

His rookie deal was worth about $11.6 million, and Allen has a base salary of $2.046 million for the 2020 season.

The fifth-year option will give Allen a big raise for the 2021 campaign. His salary will be the average of the third through 25th highest-paid players at his position.

Washington had until Sunday to pick up its option on Allen’s contract. By doing so, the Redskins guarantee Allen’s salary if he is hurt and can’t play in the 2021 season. On the first day of the NFL’s 2021 business year in March, Allen’s salary will become fully guaranteed.

JONATHAN ALLEN ‘SUPER-EXCITED’ ABOUT PLAYING FOR RON RIVERA

At Alabama, Allen was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year for the 2016 season. In his third all-conference campaign, Allen also earned the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award and was a unanimous All-American selection. The Bednarik and Nagurski annually go to the nation's best defensive player, and the Lombardi was presented annually to the nation's top lineman or linebacker.

A foot injury ended Allen’s rookie season in Washington after five games.

In 2018, Allen started every game for the Redskins. He finished second on the team with eight sacks and led Washington's linemen with 61 tackles, including 11 behind the line of scrimmage.

In 2019, a knee injury sustained in the season-opening game kept Allen out of the second contest. He rebounded to post 68 tackles, which ranked fourth on the team behind strong safety Landon Collins and inside linebackers Cole Holcomb and Jonathan Bostic. Allen also had six sacks while playing 722 defensive snaps, 64 percent of Washington’s total.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.

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