Zach Allen’s Broncos Contract Extension Details Revealed

The Denver Broncos are taking care of their own as training camp continues. With the preseason and regular season on the horizon, the club has already signed wideout Courtland Sutton and defensive lineman Zach Allen to lucrative contract extensions.

In the aftermath of the latter signing, more details are being made available.

Breaking Down Zach Allen’s Contract Extension in Denver

On the surface, Allen’s contract is exactly as it seems. It’s a true four-year extension, keeping his 2025 register intact and going from the 2026-2029 seasons. This will keep the All-Pro pass rusher in Denver through his age-32 campaign if all goes as planned. The $102 million sum amounts to an average of $25.5M per year and comes with a staggering $69.5M in guaranteed money.

Over the Cap now has even more context, thanks to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk. Per the listings, $44.25M of Allen’s contract is guaranteed at signing by way of a $24M signing bonus “and both base salaries and per-game roster bonuses in 2025 and 2026.” This year, Allen carries a $2.49M guaranteed base salary with $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses. Next year, those figures jump to $16.48M and $765,000, respectively.

It’s also noted that in March of 2026, $15.75M of Allen’s 2027 salary vests to fully guaranteed money. The rest becomes fully guaranteed in March of 2027. In the same month, $2.25M of Allen’s 2028 base salary ($21.73M) vests. Here are Allen’s new cap hits per year:

• 2025: $14.34M
• 2026: $28.62M
• 2027: $30.74M
• 2028: $30.12M
• 2029: $30.3M

The burning question at this point: Can the Broncos get out of Allen’s deal? That final year, 2029, seems to be the easiest time. If cut before that season, Denver would save $25.5M against the cap while incurring just $4.8M in dead money. 2028’s respective numbers are $17.7M and $12.42M.

Allen & Sean Payton Excited for Broncos’ Future

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Allen thanked the Broncos for the contract. He’s excited to spend his prime years in Denver.

“I just love what we’re building here, and I really can’t state that enough,” Allen said. “It’s all about the culture here. I think that’s why you kind of see how Courtland, myself, everything’s kind of being handled right now is because we believe in this team and believe in this organization. It really is a blessing to be part of the Denver Broncos organization [and] be living in Denver. I’m just highly blessed. It’s a great day.”

Head coach Sean Payton is also thrilled that one of his star players got taken care of.

“It’s a credit to both sides,” Payton said. “There’s a lot that goes into it. He’s excited, and I think the players genuinely are excited for him when they see something like that happens. It’s a good thing for the Broncos.”

Allen’s 2024-25 effort helped secure him the extension. In 16 regular-season games, he set career-highs in tackles (61), tackles for loss (15) and sacks (8.5). He also led all interior linemen in pressures on the year. Considering he’ll turn 28 before the start of the regular season, it’s reasonable to expect a quality encore in 2025-26.

That’s what both sides will hope for, at least, given this hefty price tag.