After choosing Zach Allen over Dre’Mont Jones in free agency this offseason, the Broncos are banking on Allen’s signature motor to propel their defensive line in his first season in Denver.
Allen signed a three-year, $45.75 million free-agent deal with the Broncos last spring, and head coach Sean Payton says Allen is playing up to his paycheck in the first couple weeks of training camp.
“He’s smart, he’s in the right gap, he’s consistent,” Payton said. “We had a player in New Orleans, (now Bengals defensive end) Trey Hendrickson, who just was a handful on each snap, full energy and effort, and Zach’s that way.
“Down-in, down-out, he’s really consistent and it takes a lot of energy, especially when you’re playing inside (on the line) to play that way. He’s got really good stamina.”
Allen, officially signed a day before Jones inked his three-year, $51.53 million deal with Seattle, played his first four seasons with the Cardinals and then-Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. The third-round pick emerged as a starter over the past two years, accumulating four sacks in 2021 and 5.5 in ’22.
Given his experience in Joseph’s 3-4 scheme, the 25-year-old has served as student-teacher of sorts in the former Broncos head coach’s first year back in Denver.
“(Joseph) has done a good job of keeping the same concepts as in Arizona but also trying to make the terminology easy for everybody here,” Allen said. “It’s been a seamless transition for me, and guys are really picking it up well… We had a really good offseason learning it and it’s familiar now. We should all be on the same page.”
As a rookie, Allen told the Arizona media corps that the reason for his high-motor style of play was because “without effort, you’re loafing, and a loaf means you’re a traitor to your team.”
He echoed a different version of that ethos Monday in Dove Valley, noting that he’s “always tried to lead by example” when it comes to effort — especially now that he’s a veteran with high dollar deal. Allen’s contact features $32.5 million in guaranteed money; his cap hit is $6 million this year, then jumps to $19 million in 2024.
“(Max effort every play) is just the way I was raised, and the way I was taught to play the game,” Allen said. “… It’s the way the game is meant to be played, and I’m trying to embrace that.”
During a career year in 2022 in which Allen played 13 games, that motor showed in the advanced stats. Allen tackled opposing ball carriers for a loss or no gain on 5.5% of his run defense snaps, according to NextGenStats. That trailed only the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald (5.8%) among defensive linemen with a minimum of 200 run defense snaps.
Allen also recorded career highs in tackles for loss (10) and quarterback hits (20), and the Broncos believe he is just starting to come into his own as a defensive playmaker. He missed the final four games last year with a hand injury that required surgery, but is healthy again. Allen said he’s been working on adding new pass-rush moves to his repertoire during camp.
“(The offensive line) has been good about talking to me about what they’re seeing with me, and what (moves) do or don’t work,” Allen said. “(As a pass rush) we’re still working out some kinks, but all that matters is getting ready for Week 1.”
Allen says his return to Arizona this weekend for the Broncos’ preseason opener on Friday, in which he and other Denver starters are expected to play at State Farm Stadium, won’t have any sentimental strings attached.
“It’l be nice to be back, and see the same old people,” Allen said. “But it’s a business trip.”
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.
