DENVER — For his second season with the Broncos, defensive end Zach Allen had more time to work on his craft.
Instead of working out with the team by morning and then looking at three or four homes to find the right place for his family, he is now settled, leaving him time for two workouts a day.
Phase I of the Broncos’ offseason program the past month had strength and conditioning coach Dan Dalrymple running his players through an hour of sprints and aerobic training, followed by two hours of weight training.
Allen does more. Later in the day, he will put in another workout on his own.
It’s added up to putting on a few more pounds on what had been a 6-foot-5, 285-pound frame – on purpose.
“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t feel like I could move better,’’ Allen said Thursday afternoon at College View Elementary where he helped UnitedHealthcare of Colorado distribute 51 bicycles to 5th-grade graduates. “It was more from the training. I switched up some stuff this offseason. It’s all been good weight. The body fat went down because of the extra muscle and I’m moving better than I was last year.
“I really feel good. I may say this every offseason but this truly is my best offseason so far. … So I’m really excited to see how it goes and start football stuff in a couple weeks.”
One of only three defensive players to start in all 17 games last season, and the best upfront performer with 5.0 sacks and 60 tackles, Allen returns to a Broncos team where not all of his significant teammates did. The likes of Russell Wilson, Justin Simmons, Josey Jewell, Lloyd Cushenberry III and Jerry Jeudy are gone. Bo Nix, John Franklin-Myers, Brandon Jones, Cody Barton and Josh Reynolds are in.
More pronounced than other years, the Broncos’ 2024 offseason emphasized the adage, 'Out with the old; in with the new.'
“That’s more for George [Paton] and Sean [Payton] but I have full faith in them,’’ Allen said. “They’ve done a great job in the way they have everybody bought in and believing right now. That’s the main thing in the NFL right now, trying to get 90 guys bought in and the way the workouts and OTAs have been going so far have been terrific and that’s all you can ask for.”
Allen is especially pleased with the addition of Franklin-Myers, whom he has built a friendship with over the years. They will line up opposite each other as defensive ends in Vance Joseph’s three-man front.
“John and I have been talking the past few years about hopefully playing together,’’ Allen said. “It just kind of weird how it came together but we literally would watch each other’s tape and always talking to each other, how cool it would be to play with each other and the fact we finally get to do it I’ve been so excited.
“I think we complement each other really well. We play the position similar – vertical, violent. That’s the way I think D-line has to be played and I know last year wasn’t obviously the best but I think with the changes, I think they’re for the better and it’s going to help out. We’re definitely deep up front now which is huge. Guys like Angelo (Blackson) and (Malcolm Roach) with the guys we had last year I think it’s going to be great.”
The most impactful offseason addition is Nix. He’s the quarterback of the future and, because he’s considered more mature and experienced than most rookies, the quarterback of the here and right now.
The Broncos also added quarterback Zach Wilson, a No. 2 overall draft pick of the Jets just three years ago.
“Quarterbacks are obviously the most important position on the field and if anybody knows anything about quarterbacks its coach Payton,’’ Allen said. “That’s the big thing and like I said, trust him 100%.”
Allen was speaking in the College View Elementary gymnasium where a few minutes earlier he was introduced to the students and school staff by UnitedHealthcare of Colorado CEO Marc Neely. It was the seventh consecutive year the health company gave away bikes and helmets to 5th-grade graduates with the program rotating from school to school within the Denver Public School system.
“Staying active is so important.’’ Allen said to the assembled 5th graders. “This summer is coming up and the weather in Colorado is beautiful so we really want you guys to take advantage of these bikes, just get outside, be active and play.
“For me growing up that was a big thing. So is eating right, playing. I was the same size as you guys.’’
After four years with the Arizona Cardinals, Allen signed a three-year contract with the Broncos last year. He said he plans on becoming more active in the Broncos’ community in year two.
“Definitely this offseason I’ve made it a little more of a personal goal to get more active,’’ he said. “Last year getting acclimated there was just no time to and in-season it’s always kind of tough with how busy we are. So the offseason is really the time to give back and Denver is such a great place and it’s been so supportive of me and my family, just want to give back to those people.”
Asked about expectations for his 2024 Broncos, Allen decided to let the work do the talking.
“It’s May so not going to go out here and make any crazy statements,’’ he said. “But I think we’ve been doing a really good job of taking it day by day and everybody’s been doing a really good job of coming in every day, working, putting in extra hours which is all you can ask for this time of year and you know it’s going to pay off.”
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