Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen knows he’s going to have to live up to the lucrative contract he signed back in March. The NFL distributes its vast wealth with clear caveats: produce or hit the bricks, but entering Year 1 as a newly-paid Bronco, Allen is okay with that set-up.
"It definitely was a brand-new kind of experience but it worked out for everyone involved," Allen said on Thursday following OTA practice. "Now it’s my time to prove it.”
Not sold on keeping Dre’Mont Jones in town, the Broncos' front office went shopping in Arizona. Allen's willingness to sign with Denver could be put down to the fat $45.75 million contract he'll take home over the next three years, but the 25-year-old says the presence of his long-time coordinator Vance Joseph also swayed him massively.
Allen considers Joseph to be as good a friend as he is a mentor.
"I think Vance is one of the best coaches in the NFL and I was really fortunate to be with him for four years and if you have a chance to make it five, six, seven, then you’re going to do that," Allen said. "So I’m a believer in his stuff and his coaching style and at this point, he’s just a really good friend.”
Add to the equation a talented defensive core, and signing with Denver was a no-brainer for Allen.
"Defensive-wise, it’s a really talented group," Allen said. "There’s a reason why I came here. And then, obviously, the familiarity with ‘VJ’ and his system, so it’s been better than I even expected.”
Fitting into a scheme he knows extremely well should position Allen to assimilate rather quickly in Denver. In such a results-driven business, Allen is looking to make even more strides on from the 5.5-sack total he hit under the tutelage of Joseph in Arizona last season.
“I did that in 13 games, but I definitely think I can improve, watching the film," Allen said. "That’s the reason why I came here. I think there’s a lot of good pieces here to help me get there and help us win some football games.”
Hard work seems to be part of the former Cardinal's make-up. All the hours Allen spent learning from his former teammate and future Hall-of-Famer J.J. Watt in Arizona helped him develop, and that stream of sage advice will continue to flow.
“He definitely helped out a lot," Allen said of Watt. "I can really only—I speak very highly about him. I was able to learn a lot from him, obviously, and I’m fortunate for that. I think last year, it was a really good opportunity. We had a great on-field and off-field chemistry. I still am picking his brain for ideas. He’s helping me pick out furniture for my new house.”
In his new locker room, Allen now finds himself in proximity to another potential future Hall-of-Famer in the form of quarterback Russell Wilson.
“Russ is a superstar and he’s the hardest-working guy in the building," Allen said. "I’m a big fan of the way he works and the way he does everything. Obviously, he burned me a bunch of times when I was in AZ, so I’m excited for him.”
Allen appears to be a prototypical Sean Payton type of player — understated, but at the same time, laser-focused on both team and personal goals. Expensive as he might have been to acquire, the upside is that Allen is happy to be here and willing to keep on honing his craft from others.
“I’m coming in with an open mind because there’s a lot of guys on this defense and on this coaching staff that have done a lot more than I’ve ever done," Allen said.
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