The Denver Broncos defensive line put the rest of the NFL on high alert last season as they were the heart and soul of one of the league’s top defenses. With 63 sacks to lead the league and just 3.9 yards allowed per carry (second to Baltimore), the defensive line made big time plays and changed the course of various games throughout the season.
In Pro Football Focus’ rankings of the top defensive line units across the NFL, the Broncos slotted in at eighth overall. Highlighted by Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers on the inside with a plethora of depth surrounding them, the unit is arguably the deepest in the NFL heading into the 2025 season.
The ranking is also the best, by far, among the four teams in the AFC West. The Chiefs came in at 15th, the Chargers 19th and the Raiders 22nd. While the Broncos don’t have the tools on offense to keep up with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert on one side of the ball in the division, they certainly have the tools on the other side of the ball to stop two of the league’s top quarterbacks.
“The Broncos’ defensive line might be the deepest in the league, with seven players ranking among the top 50 at their respective positions in PFF overall grade in 2024. Denver’s defense generated pressure on a league-leading 40.7% of plays without blitzing, showing what the defensive line is capable of,” PFF said.
A lot of the work this unit did last year went under the radar besides the stellar play of Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto off the edge, a duo that combined for a whopping 23.5 sacks a season ago (yes, the edge rushers are being counted as part of the defensive line here, not as the linebacker core). Those guys were able to feast on opposing quarterbacks off the edge because they were rushing against single coverage looks because the big guns on the interior ate up multiple blockers at a time. Without solid pieces inside, such as D.J. Jones, Malcolm Roach and the aforementioned players, the edge rushers don’t have as much success.
Denver having Malcolm Roach as a 4th interior d-line option is wild. Can't wait to watch this group back on the field this season. pic.twitter.com/ElavK0zVLo
— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) May 15, 2025
Making the plays on the line of scrimmage is great, but don’t forget that the guys on this unit have learned a thing or two from Pat Surtain and the guys in the secondary to add to their arsenal.
#Broncos DL Malcolm Roach in coverage might be the highlight of the night. pic.twitter.com/EVHTP1sBTc
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) October 18, 2024
With the Broncos inking Jones to a contract extension this offseason, they will be returning all of the top guys from one of the NFL’s top units a season ago. If the Broncos want to make a deeper run in the playoffs this year after they were blown out in the Wild Card game a season ago, this unit will have to lead the way. They got gashed up by Buffalo’s rush attack all afternoon in that playoff game, keeping all the momentum on the other sideline. This unit has what it takes to be a difference maker in a playoff game, all they need to do is go out an execute next time that opportunity is on the table.