Zach Allen, Broncos Reportedly Agree to $102M Contract Extension, $69.5M Guaranteed

The Denver Broncos have locked in another key member of their stellar defense by agreeing to a long-term extension with Zach Allen.

Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Allen will sign a four-year, $102 million deal that includes $69.5 million guaranteed.

This new deal will make Allen the third-highest-paid interior defensive lineman by average annual salary at $25.5 million. The only players ahead of him are Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs ($31.8 million) and Milton Williams of the New England Patriots ($26 million).

The $69.5 million in guaranteed money also ranks third, behind Jones ($95 million) and Baltimore Ravens star Nnamdi Madubuike ($75.5 million).

Allen joins Pat Surtain II, Quinn Meinerz, Jonathon Cooper, Garett Bolles and Courtland Sutton as Broncos cornerstone players who have received contract extensions since August 2024.

Nik Bonitto, who led the team with 13.5 sacks last season, could join that group since he is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and has had talks with the Broncos about a new contract.

Allen was one of the first big additions the Broncos made after Sean Payton was hired as head coach. He signed a three-year, $45.8 million deal with Denver as a free agent in March 2023 after spending four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

The 27-year-old's move to Denver reunited him with Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who served in the same role for the Cardinals from 2019 to '22.

Allen took his game to another level in 2024, ranking first in the NFL in quarterback knockdowns (29) and second in quarterback pressures (47). He also recorded a career-high 8.5 sacks and was named to the All-Pro second team.

The Broncos defense finished third in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed last season. They made the playoffs with a 10-7 record, marking their first winning season since 2016.