The Denver Broncos have experienced a significant turnaround on defense the past couple of seasons. Their dominant and ferocious play upfront is a major reason for that. After signing with the Broncos as a free agent in 2023, Zach Allen has become one of the team’s best players and emerged as one of the NFL’s best interior defensive linemen.
In three seasons of play in Denver, Allen has played in 50 games with 50 starts. He has notched 158 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, and an eye-popping
111 quarterback hits. His efforts last season earned him both Pro-Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors.
Last year, he was rewarded with a four-year contract extension worth $102 million with $44.25 million guaranteed, a significant raise over his initial three-year deal worth $45.75 back in March of ’23. In order for the Broncos to achieve their aspirations of a fourth Lombardi Trophy, they will need the former Boston College standout to perform at a high level once again—especially with the departure of John Franklin-Myers to the Tennessee Titans in free agency.
Player Profile
Age: 30 | Experience: Eighth Year | College: Boston College | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 285 pounds
Arm Length: 34-3/4” | Hand Size: 10-1/8” | Broad: 9’4” | Vertical: 32” | Bench: 24 reps
40-yard dash: 5 seconds | Shuttle: 4.36 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.34 seconds
Zach Allen’s 2026 outlook with the Broncos
The Broncos’ brass at Dove Valley have made it a priority over the past few years to make significant investments in the trenches. Whether it’s the offensive or defensive lines, General George Paton and Head Coach Sean Payton haven’t been shy about throwing out the big bucks to reward the foundational players on their roster.
It’s an endeavor that certainly has paid off. Since reuniting with Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph, Allen’s play has only gotten better with more experience. He has been one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Moreover, a key reason why the defense has been the top unit in sacks the past two seasons.
In his first two years with the Broncos, Allen played in 81-percent and 89-percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps. Last year, he played 71-percent of his snaps but was still incredibly productive. With a six deep rotation, I’d assume the Broncos would like to continue to keep his snap count at around the same amount to keep him fresh. He is poised to be a key starter for them and should once again play at a top-tier level we’ve seen the past three seasons.
Final Thoughts
Turn back the clocks three years ago to the ‘23 free agency period. A lot of Broncos Country was upset the front office let Dre’Mont Jones walk in free agency. Fast forward to the present day, and it’s safe to say their pivot to Allen and reuniting him with Joseph as their free agent of choice was the right call.
Allen has been a two-time All-Pro and one of the league’s most underrated defenders. One could easily argue he is one of the top five most important players on the team. Meanwhile, Jones is now with his fourth team since signing with the Seahawks back in ‘23. I’m looking forward to seeing Allen dominate in the trenches again for the Broncos in 2026.
