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NFL anaylst says the time is now for the Broncos to give a veteran player the contract extension he deserves

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Destin Adams | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 8:04 AM ET

The Denver Broncos were one of the best stories in the NFL last season. They shocked the league by earning a playoff spot last season.

QB Bo Nix gets a lot of the credit, as well as their star-studded defense led by Patrick Surtain. However, there are multiple other players who also deserve their flowers. NFL analyst Aaron Schatz believes the time is now for the Broncos to repay one of them with a new contract ahead of the 2025 season.

My annual ESPN piece on one more move for each team in July. A couple of trade suggestions, some contract extensions that should be done, and a few homes for remaining free agents are all in here.https://t.co/QuDSkvFSbi
— Aaron Schatz (@ASchatzNFL) June 26, 2025

ESPN calls for the Broncos to extend DL Zach Allen

Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

"Allen had a phenomenal 2024 season. He had a run stop rate of 89% -- second at his position -- and he had 59 pressures, which tied with Chiefs' Chris Jones for the highest total among interior linemen. However, Allen's contract voids after the 2025 season. He'll be 29 in 2026, still in his prime, so the Broncos should extend him to solidify the middle of their defense for the next three or four seasons."

- ESPN's one final move for all 32 teams

Zach Allen is coming off the best season of his six year NFL career to date. He certainly earned a new contract, and if he can do it again in 2025, he could be in line for a massive payday. The Broncos would be wise to get ahead of the eight ball here and extend Allen early. Doing so now would likely save them a significant amount of money in the long run. It makes a ton of sense for the Broncos, but that very reason is a significant reason why Allen and his team likely prefer to put up another great season in 2025 before inking a new deal. We will have to wait and see if the two sides engage in a potential contract extension ahead of the season.