Broncos lock in defensive centerpiece Zach Allen with monster contract extension — and it may finally bring Allen the recognition he deserves

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kyle Crabbs | Last updated Aug 2, 2025 12:13 PM ET

The Denver Broncos have locked in one of the biggest pieces of their defensive front. Denver boasts one of the most potent front sevens in all of football and rode their defense to great heights in 2024. The Broncos finished third in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed on the season — but with a high-stakes 2025 season awaiting them, the question was who was going to earn the chance to be a long-term piece of the puzzle.

The Broncos have several contract-year pieces up front in 2025, including John Franklin-Myers and Nik Bonitto. But Denver is waking up this morning with one less expiring contract after 2025 in their front — defensive lineman Zach Allen has agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension, per Jordan Schultz.

Zach Allen agrees to terms on a four-year, $102 million contract extension

BREAKING: #Broncos All-Pro DL Zach Allen has agreed to a 4-year, $102M extension with $69.5M guaranteed, multiple sources tell me.

Allen led all defensive linemen in QB pressures last season and also added 8.5 sacks. Now he gets his second, well deserved payday in Denver. pic.twitter.com/RdIiAr7kRC
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 2, 2025

The Broncos knocked this one out of the park. It's a no-brainer from a talent, production and longevity standpoint. Health willing, Allen figures to be a major piece of the puzzle with the Broncos. His diversity in alignment and disruptiveness put him in rare company.

When I first started at A to Z Sports in May, I wrote about Allen's production and the Broncos' race against the clock to ink a deal before falling too far behind the pack. The combination of production as both a run defender and pass rusher set the bar high for extension talks.

"There are 26 NFL defenders over the past two seasons with triple digit pressures and at least twenty tackles for loss; but when you categorize tackles for loss only on running plays, only 16 defenders have a dozen tackles for loss on run downs to go with triple digit pressures."

The Cream Of The Crop

Maxx Crosby (148 pressures, 18 run TFL)
Brian Burns (101, 18)
Greg Rousseau (118, 18)
Myles Garrett (169, 17)
Nick Bosa (164, 17)
TJ Watt (139, 16)
Alex Highsmith (117, 15)
Quinnen Williams (124, 15)
Zach Allen (135, 14)
Carl Granderson (119, 13)
Montez Sweat (113. 13)
Will Anderson (110, 13)
Jonathan Greenard (128, 12)
Danielle Hunter (146, 12)
Nik Bonnito (104, 12)
Jalen Carter (102, 12)

Allen's wins in this extension are plentiful. The $69.5 million in guarantees is a hefty number. A nine-figure total value is handsome and there's presumably a large pay-raise for the 2025 season as a result. When we explored his ranking among the elites in May, it was noted that similar names now slot between $20-$25 million annually. Allen clears $25 million annual average with this new deal.

It's a forward thinking extension but one that locks Allen in long-term and moves him from 'underpaid sleeper' to 'franchise cornerstone'.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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