A Mile High Contract: Zach Allen Signs A Nine-Figure Deal With The Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are looking to build on last year's playoff appearance, their first since winning the Super Bowl in 2015. The team already re-signed top receiver Courtland Sutton to a long-term extension, and now they're doing the same with a key anchor on the defensive line.

Denver and defensive end Zach Allen agreed to a four-year, $102 million contract extension. The deal includes $69.5 million in guaranteed money, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and will kick in beginning with the 2026 season. That will keep Allen in a Broncos uniform throughout the decade.

Allen was drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, selected by the Arizona Cardinals. He spent the first four years of his career there before signing a three-year, $45.75 million deal with Denver in 2023. This new contract more than doubles that deal's overall value.

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And for good reason—Allen is coming off his best season yet. He finished the year with career-highs in tackles (61), tackles for loss (15), quarterback hits (40), and sacks (8.5). He even threw in a safety for good measure.

For his strong play, Allen was named to the All-Pro Second Team. His fellow NFL players also ranked him the 90th best player in the league in the "NFL Top 100 Players of 2025″ list.

In terms of overall salary, Allen is now the fifth-highest-paid defensive end in the entire league:

• Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: $170 million
• Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: $160 million
• Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders: $106.5 million
• Milton Williams, New England Patriots: $104 million
• Zach Allen, Denver Broncos: $102 million

All five players signed their contract extensions this offseason. It's a sign that teams around the league are valuing the impact edge rushers can have on a game. Allen doesn't quite have the quantity of accolades that Bosa, Garrett, and Crosby have, but he's continuing to get better each season, so he may not be far off.

Now, he'll look to keep improving while looking to get Denver back into the playoffs—and with any luck, they'll win a few games once they're there.