The Denver Broncos should look to extend their defensive tackle sooner rather than later.
One of the better moves the Denver Broncos made recently was extending defensive lineman Zach Allen on a three-year, $45.75 million deal back in 2023.
Allen, 25 at the time, was entering free agency coming off a 5.5-sack season with the Arizona Cardinals. The Broncos bet on his upside and were rewarded when Allen posted an All-Pro caliber season in 2024 as an all-around defensive lineman.
Now, it’s time for another potential extension for Allen, who has continued to improve and is now heading into a contract year in 2025.
He’s been a great fit in defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s defense, and could be the next in line for a contract extension with the Broncos.
What could a potential contract look like?
Baseline numbers for a Zach Allen contract extension
When it comes to the top of the defensive tackle market, Chris Jones stands alone with his five-year, $158.75 million deal from last offseason.
Behind him was Las Vegas defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who signed a four-year, $110 million deal in free agency last year, but he was just released. Then comes a strong tier: Nnamdi Madubuike, Alim McNeill, Quinnen Williams, Derrick Brown, Jeffery Simmons, DeForest Buckner, and Daron Payne.
Each of those defensive tackles ranges between $22.5 million and $24.5 million per year. That’s where Allen could project, given his production and strong 2024 campaign.
Now, it’s notable that five of those names were 25 or under when signing their deals. Madubuike was 26, while Buckner was 30, which is why the latter got a two-year extension with the Indianapolis Colts.
With Allen entering his age-28 campaign, the numbers could vary in terms of the number of years and the average salary.
Outside of Buckner, the total guarantees have ranged from around $55-75 million, so there’s quite a range of possibilities there as well.
An under-the-radar comparison could be Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who signed a three-year, $64.5 million deal at age 29 last offseason. Williams has been an underrated piece of the Seahawks defense as a run defender, and got two years guaranteed on his deal.
Allen is a year younger and is coming off a better season, but that could be a good baseline to monitor.
Projecting Zach Allen’s new contract with the Broncos
Given that Allen is entering his age-28 season and still has one year left on the three-year deal he signed in 2023, another three-year deal makes sense here for the Broncos defensive tackle.
As mentioned above, Williams could be the baseline for Allen, who should garner more than the $21.5 million per year salary that the Seahawks defender got.
A three-year deal worth around $23 million per year makes sense, while Allen could get a strong guarantee of two years.
Adding in his $12.74 million salary for the 2025 season, you get four years and $81.74 million, which ranks 13th among defensive tackles in average salary. That makes sense for both the player and the team.
Projection: 3 years, $69 million, $48 million in total guarantees