He was not the biggest name on the free agent market with flashier names like Jakobi Meyers, Javon Hargrave, Orlando Brown, and even Odell Beckham Jr.
While some of these players would have certainly made the Denver Broncos a more exciting team, new coach Sean Payton and the management team did their best to make a big splash with new additions to their roster.
One of the most underrated free agents on the market was Arizona Cardinals defensive end, Zach Allen. On March 13, Allen and the Broncos agreed to a three-year / $45.75 million, which includes a guaranteed $32.5 million.
With a goal of improving both their defensive and offensive lines, adding the former third-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft helps with the former. Following his four years with the Boston College Eagles in which he was named to the All-ACC Second Team during his senior season, Allen would be selected with the 65th pick by the Cardinals.
If you want to bet on the NFL in Colorado you can read more on how to do it here.
Arizona Cardinals Tenure
During the four seasons that Allen was a member of the Cardinals defensive line, he would make an impact in every game he played, but he also had to deal with being sidelined each season with various injuries.
In Allen’s rookie season, he would be named the starting defensive end, but would only play four games before being sidelined with a neck injury suffered in a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
While Allen would bounce back to play 13,15 and 13 games the following three seasons, he would still find himself on the injured reserve list each year.
2021 would be Allen’s best year as a pro, starting fourteen games and posting 48 tackles including 30 solo efforts, four sacks and fourteen quarterback hits. But it wasn’t just the defensive numbers that made Allen’s third season his best as he would also recover 3 fumbles for 27 yards, one of which resulted in his first profesional visit to the endzone for six points.
Zach Allen is a dawg in the trenches!
📺: ABC, ESPN + NFLN | April 25-27 pic.twitter.com/TkMi7Cb16b
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2019
Why Did He Leave The Cardinals?
Knowing that defensive superstar J.J. Watt was set to retire at the end of the season, one would have expected that the Cardinals would have turned to Allen as the next one up, especially after spending two seasons learning from the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
As to why the Cardinals let Allen walk without much resistance, some believe that the combination of injury, fit with the new coaching system and salary have something to do with it.
For a team that has only one Wild Card playoff appearance to their name over the last seven seasons and was thirty-first in Points Against last season, letting go of one of their better defensive players will likely come back to haunt them.
With the 65th pick, we have selected Zach Allen!#CardsDraft pic.twitter.com/WPwOdo4hnj
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2019
New Chapter In Denver
It has been well documented by critics and fans that the Cardinals made a major mistake in letting Allen leave. But Arizona’s loss appears to be the Broncos’ gain, or at least that is what fans in the Mile High City are hoping for the upcoming season as they made Allen the fourteenth highest paid interior defensive lineman in the league.
After Dre’Mont Jones left Denver to sign with the Seatle Seahawks for $51 million the Broncos needed to fill a hole in their defensive line.
Allen entering into the Denver locker room completely unknown as he will be reunited with a face that is familiar to both himself and Broncos fans. Vance Joseph returns to the team as the defensive coordinator after playing the role with the Cardinals since 2019. Fans will recognize Joseph as the Broncos head coach from 2017 through the 2018 season.
So, what can Broncos fans expect from the twenty-five-year-old, entering his fifth season? According to his former Cardinals’ teammate and mentor Watt’s social media post following Allen’s signing, apparently a lot “Love this for my guy!! Works his a** off, studies his a** off, cares immensely. Can’t wait to see what this next chapter holds. Well deserved”, the future Hall of Famer noted.
With the influence of Watt, Allen, who stands 6’4” and 280 pounds, proved that he can not only defend against opposing running backs but can also hunt down quarterbacks. Fans are hoping that Allen will repeat or better his career high 35 quarterback pressures in 427 pass-rushing snaps while improving his 6.4% run-stop rate, which ranked in the bottom half of defensive linemen who finished the season with a minimum of 100 run-defending snaps.
Broncos, DE Zach Allen agree to 3-year, $45.75M deal with $32.5M guaranteed. (via @Rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/wpgWvnjObx
— NFL (@NFL) March 14, 2023
How Will He Fit For The Broncos?
If Allen’s hand back to full health after injuring it in a game against the New England Patriots, sidelining him for the final four games of the season and assuming he reconnects well with Joseph, the Broncos defense, which was arguably the best in the league last season just got better.
Even though the season starts only in September, the Broncos have been busy and have already made a couple of free agent signings. With the team slated for the 29th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft next month, they should prioritize the free agency players and Allen seems like a valuable addition in defense.
Credits on Featured Image: Arizona Cardinals defensive end Zach Allen walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. The Chargers won 25-24. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin/Digital License)
