Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen is well on his way to the first Pro Bowl (and All-Pro) honors of his career.
Through seven games, Allen has recorded 32 tackles (nine behind the line), 16 quarterback hits, four sacks and one safety.
Super Bowl 50 champion Chris Harris has compared Allen to J.J. Watt, and Watt himself listed Allen among his five defensive line All-Pro candidates this season.
Allen has received praise from many pundits, including NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger. This week, Broncos coach Sean Payton compared Allen’s stamina to that of eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro Cameron Jordan.
“I don’t want to use the comparison, he plays a different position than Cameron Jordan, but they remind me of each other in their respective positions in that they play with really good stamina,” Payton said. “It’s hard to do. It’s like you’re wrestling. When Play 48 is the same as Play 3, just the consistency in a position where we do have a rotation, it’s important because every play is like a six-second wrestling match.
“It’s tiring. There’s discipline, and then there’s a skill set. Those are traits that remind me of Cam. Cam played more the end [position], but those are really good traits.”
Zach Allen should absolutely be near the very top of the DPOY discussions this year.
He's currently on pace for:
78 tackles
10 sacks
22 tackles for loss
39 QB hits https://t.co/2gpCMxP0fK— Lou Scataglia (@LouScatagliaPO) October 21, 2024
Allen’s six sacks rank second at his position. He has also totaled 24 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. The NFL’s Next Gen Stats page credits Allen with 35 pressures, most among interior defensive linemen.
Allen’s breakout year is a big reason why Denver’s defense has been so dominant this season, and he deserves all the accolades coming his way.
