The Denver Broncos Zach Allen has become a star defensive lineman.

Allen just signed a massive four-year contract extension for $102 million, making him the third-highest paid D-lineman in the NFL today.

But it’s been a long journey to the Mile High City and that blockbuster deal.

Denver Broncos Zach Allen almost left the NFL in his second year

If Zach Allen didn’t push through his struggles as a sophomore, Broncos fans wouldn’t have been able to make him a fan favorite in 2024.

After signing his massive new contract with the Broncos on Saturday, Allen spoke to the media about his somewhat humble beginnings in the NFL.

Allen was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. And after waiting more than half the season on the sideline, he got his chance late in the year.

“I’ll never forget it, my rookie year I was injured so it was whatever, learning a new position,” Allen explained. “In my second year, when you have to grow up, and I remember the first Rams game of that season probably about Week 10 or 11, [I] played the worst game of my life. I was in the parking lot, and I was talking to Charlie Bollen, one of our coaches, ‘I’m going to get cut.’ I came home, told my fiancée, Molly, ‘You know what I have a finance degree, we’ll going to move back east, and I guess I’m going to be working in an office. We tried it.’ Again, it’s a testament to everybody in my life that’s helped me get here. You just have to be gritty and take it day by day. It’s never over.”

His career certainly was tough sledding to start out. Allen only appeared in four games as a rookie and then sustained a neck injury and was placed on injured reserve. His second season, he played in 13 games including seven starts, but only totaled 2.0 sacks and 35 combined tackles.

Then, in 2021-2022, he became a full-time starter for the Cardinals as a defensive end and then defensive tackle. He totaled 9.5 sacks combined those two years, picked off a pass, and became a real monster in the opposing team’s backfield with QB hits (34) and TFLs (15).

But Allen has really blossomed with the Broncos. He had 5 sacks and a career-high 24 QB hits in 2023 before his career year last year.

In 2024, he was the best interior defender in the NFL at getting after the quarterback. He totaled career-highs of 8.5 sacks, 40 QB hits, and 15 tackles for a loss. He also recorded a safety. Allen played an astounding 89% of Denver’s defensive snaps last year, as one of their most consistent defenders on a unit that set the team record with 63.0 sacks. He was so great, Allen was named Second-Team All-Pro.

Broncos defense will be elite once again

Denver’s defense was a top-5 unit last year, and they will be at least that good again this season.

The group–similar to the last great Denver defense in 2015–has star power at all three levels. Up front, there’s Allen in the middle of the defensive line. Outside, Nik Bonitto enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024, while Jonathan Cooper’s career year (10.5 sacks) flew under the radar because of Bonitto’s greatness. Bonitto’s 13.5 sacks led the team and he also had a pick-6 and fumble-6 on his way to joining Allen on the Second-Team All-Pro list.

This year, the Broncos picked up star power in the middle they were lacking last season. Dre Greenlaw signed with the team in the offseason, picking Denver over his former 49ers. If he can stay healthy, Greenlaw will provide the tremendous tackling and sideline-to-sideline speed Denver’s been missing at linebacker.

Then there’s Patrick Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. His greatness speaks for itself. And Surtain leads an incredibly deep cornerback room that added Jahdae Barron in the first round of the draft in April.

Finally, Brandon Jones enjoyed his own career year last season at safety, and newcomer Talanoa Hurfanga only adds power and flexibility to the safety group.

Barring injuries, there’s little standing in the way of Denver’s defense being even better in 2025 than they were in 2024. And with so much star power, it’s easy to overlook just how great Allen has been for the Broncos.