The NFL season is just over 60 days away for Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos as they get ready for one of the franchise’s most hyped up seasons in the past decade. With one of the top defenses in the NFL and an offense with some new weapons alongside second-year quarterback Bo Nix, the Broncos are set up to make a deeper run after just sniffing the postseason last year.
The NFL has begun to slowly release its annual top 100 player rankings list, starting with No. 100. The first Bronco to make the list was defensive lineman Zach Allen, who slotted in at No. 90.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Broncos DE Zach Allen is ranked No. 90! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/D832rN3upM
— NFL (@NFL) July 7, 2025
Allen had the best season of his six-year career in 2024, as he tallied 8.5 sacks and 61 total tackles in 16 games. If his work in the trenches wasn’t good enough for some people, he also Ade sure to get in on some pass coverage with a pass deflection. He put on a variety of moves all season long as he helped orchestrate the best pass rush in the entire league.
Zach Allen is the best interior defensive lineman the Broncos have had since Malik Jackson in 2015. pic.twitter.com/gPut89p8B9
— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) February 23, 2025
In 2024, Allen’s 967 snaps played were the most among 219 qualified defensive linemen, and his 75 pressures and 28 hits were both the top mark for the position, according to Pro Football Focus. His 35 QB hurries were good for 11th-best. Different stat databases have different numbers for players, but Allen’s numbers in that database were the best.
Allen is just one piece of the Broncos’ multi-headed snake that keeps opposing quarterbacks up at night leading up to the game. Alongside Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and John Franklin-Myers, the orange and blue have a pass rushing unit that’s second-to-none.
While it’s nice that Allen was recognized as one of the league’s top players, Bonitto wasn’t a fan of him only being 90th on the list. If anyone knows how good Allen truly is, it’s one of the guys who lines up next to him on almost every snap.
To low https://t.co/07J7xS5XUf
— Nik Bonitto (@nikkkkbonitto) July 7, 2025
Allen is heading into the final year of the three-year contract he signed with the Broncos back before the 2023 season, and if he puts up another campaign like he did last year, the number on that check is going to be very expensive. He’s not the only one on the Broncos front line who’s in a contract year, as Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach are also on expiring contracts.
The Broncos will likely have a few more names on the list, as Allen is just the first player from the Mile High City to have his name be revealed. Last season, Denver’s only player on the list was Pat Surtain II, a low number that will certainly be topped this year.