The Denver Broncos shelled out over $102 million last August for Zach Allen, a move that now looks like an absolute steal after he’s become a two-time All-Pro for their transformed defensive line. Remember back in the 2023 offseason when the Broncos made a huge defensive line change? They let Dre’Mont Jones, a guy many thought was a rising star, walk for a fat deal with our own Seattle Seahawks. Instead, they snagged Allen, linking him back up with Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph. Honestly, a lot of fans in Broncos Country were scratching their heads at the time, right? Fast forward a few years and there’s absolutely zero doubt the franchise leadership made the right call. Since Allen landed in the Mile High City, he hasn’t just been good, he’s been a game-changer, while Jones has already bounced to his fourth different team since leaving Denver.
Payton’s Praises and Allen’s Unstoppable Numbers
Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton recently couldn’t stop gushing about what makes Allen such a beast on the field. The guy has “tremendous stamina,” Payton said, adding that “play 38 looks like eight, play 60 still looks like eight.” That’s a massive asset in a position where guys usually gas out! Payton also highlighted his “intelligence and his quickness off the ball,” saying Allen usually wins his rush in the first second and a half. We’re talking about pure dominance in the trenches.
And the stats back it up, big time. In three seasons with the Broncos, Allen has only missed one game and started 50! He’s racked up 159 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and a mind-blowing 20.5 sacks. But wait, there’s more: the guy’s pass-rushing game has gone next level with an astounding 111 quarterback hits and 159 pressures to his name. His presence has totally flipped the script for the Broncos’ defensive front, taking them from a major weak spot to one of the best trench groups in the entire NFL.
Smart Snaps and a Monster Future
When Payton was asked if there’s even a “next step” for a player already playing at such a high level, he didn’t have a specific answer, but he did offer a simple recipe to keep him balling out. “He keeps himself in shape, and it’s hard to play that position, the snaps he plays,” Payton noted. The key is making sure they’re rotating him so he’s not out there too long. Allen played 911 snaps (81 percent) in 2023 and an insane 964 snaps (89 percent) in 2024. Last season, the Broncos wisely carried an extra defensive lineman and rotated their front more, cutting Allen’s snaps to 797 (71 percent). Guess what? He was just as productive, if not more, in a lot of statistical categories than in previous seasons!
So what’s next for Zach Allen? This guy keeps getting better with age and experience. With Payton focused on managing his snaps to keep him fresh, the sky’s the limit for Allen to continue dominating those trenches for the Broncos. You gotta wonder how many more All-Pro seasons this dude has in him. It’s gonna be wild to watch him continue to grow his legend!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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