DEN Zach Allen
NFL player. Position: DT. Team: DEN.
Quick Facts
- Position: DT
- Team: DEN (Denver Broncos)
- Status: All-Pro caliber, thriving in Vance Joseph's scheme
2026 Outlook
All-Pro defensive tackle thriving in Denver under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph's scheme. Recorded career-high 8.5 sacks in 2024, then followed with 7 sacks and 50 QB pressures in 2025 (second in NFL, behind only Myles Garrett). Elite company—only player to join J.J. Watt, Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, and Nick Bosa with 40+ QB hits in a season. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard (new Bills DC) previously worked under Vance Joseph in Denver and studied Leonhard's success with Allen as a blueprint for Ed Oliver's transition to Buffalo's new 3-4 scheme (per Bills' Ed Oliver sits out OTAs, studies Zach Allen film).
Broncos finished with 68 sacks last year, 4 short of the 1984 Bears' NFL record of 72. Allen is confident the team will break the record in 2026, citing Vance Joseph's defensive scheme that creates one-on-one opportunities for pass rushers (per Zach Allen: Broncos expect to break the NFL record for sacks this season).
Role / Depth Chart
All-Pro defensive tackle, anchor of Broncos defense.
Recent News
- 2026-07-09 — Zach Allen: Broncos expect to break the NFL record for sacks this season (Zach Allen: Broncos expect to break the NFL record for sacks this season)
- 2026-07-09 — DL Zach Allen voted No. 73 on 2026 NFL Top 100 list (DL Zach Allen voted No. 73 on 2026 NFL Top 100 list)
- 2026-06-22 — Broncos signing DL Tyler Onyedim to 4-year rookie contract (Broncos signing DL Tyler Onyedim to 4-year rookie contract)
- 2026-05-07 — Biggest roster holes for all 32 NFL teams following the draft (Biggest roster holes for all 32 NFL teams following the draft)
- 2026-03-04 — 2026 NFL Top 50 Free Agents (2026 NFL Top 50 Free Agents)
- 2026-02-20 — Ranking deepest, thinnest positions in NFL free agency, draft (Ranking deepest, thinnest positions in NFL free agency, draft)
- 2026-04-27 — 2026 NFL Draft Grades: Analyzing All 32 Teams' Classes (2026 NFL Draft Grades: Analyzing All 32 Teams' Classes)
- 2026-04-07 — Forget first-round draft picks: Why contenders should trade for these proven stars instead (Forget first-round draft picks: Why contenders should trade for these proven stars instead)
- 2026-05-26 — Broncos' Depth Chart Projection Entering OTAs Features Some New Names (Broncos' Depth Chart Projection Entering OTAs Features Some New Names)
- 2026-05-03 — Denver Broncos: Defensive depth chart going into offseason program (Denver Broncos: Defensive depth chart going into offseason program)
Trade value: ESPN's Bill Barnwell values Allen at minimum one first-round pick in a trade, citing his 87 quarterback knockdowns over the past two seasons—20 more than any other player. Barnwell specifically noted Allen would command a "Quinnen Williams-sized return" (Williams was traded for first-round pick compensation), reflecting his status as one of the NFL's elite interior pass rushers. (per Which Broncos Would Command First-Round Picks In Trades?)
Open Questions
(scoped to this player)