The Denver Broncos knew that giving up a first-round pick for Sean Payton would eventually pay off. Payton had success with the New Orleans Saints and made them consistent contenders. The hope for the Broncos was that he could do that for them. After two years, Payton has turned the Broncos from a laughing stock into a legitimate contender in the AFC.
It surely helps that the team has a stacked defense. The Broncos still had to reach an agreement with All-Pro defensive lineman Zach Allen, who was set to hit free agency at the end of the year. Payton had expressed confidence that a deal would come before the season. Sure enough, it has come to fruition in early August.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Broncos and Allen have agreed to terms on a four-year, $102 million contract extension, with $69.5 million guaranteed.
BREAKING: #Broncos All-Pro DL Zach Allen has agreed to a 4-year, $102M extension with $69.5M guaranteed, multiple sources tell me.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 2, 2025
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
Broncos load up their defense with Zach Allen contract extension
Now, with Allen locked in long-term, that means the Broncos have made their team strength even stronger That will only help them make a run through the AFC and back to the Super Bowl.
The Broncos brought in Allen during Payton's first year, as he previously played for the Arizona Cardinals. With that, Allen reunited with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who also made the jump from Arizona to Denver. The move ultimately paid off, as Allen became a superstar on Denver's defensive line.
In his first season, Allen recorded 60 total tackles (27 solo, 33 assisted), 24 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, and one forced fumble. But Allen really improved in 2024, recording 61combined tackles (32 solo, 29 assisted), 40 quarterback hits, 15 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and one safety.
But one statistic that truly stands out is that Allen's 50 pass rush wins at defensive tackle were the most in the NFL last season. The second-most were Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs and Quinnen Williams, who had 34 pass-rush wins each.
Locking in Allen was pivotal for the Broncos. The defense is loaded with talent. They have cornerback Patrick Surtain II, linebacker Nik Bonitto as other focal points of the defense. Not only that, but they also signed San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga, and drafted Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron.
This is a defense, on paper, that can really make noise in the postseason. The Broncos shocked the world last year when they made it into the playoffs as a No. 7 seed, thanks in part to the defense that allowed 18.3 points per game. Now, we wait and see if they can take that next step, which is getting through the AFC gauntlet and the rival Kansas City Chiefs to compete for a Lombardi Trophy.