Insider Reveals Why Broncos Liked Zach Allen More Than Dre'Mont Jones
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When push came to shove, the Denver Broncos opted not to meet the rising financial demands of free-agent defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones. The Broncos declined to franchise tag him, which would have cost the team $18-plus million guaranteed for 2023.
Jones was allowed to test the market, but well before he'd agreed to his new deal with the Seattle Seahawks, the Broncos had already signed his replacement. Former Arizona Cardinal Zach Allen was signed to a three-year deal on the first day of the NFL's 'legal tampering' window.
While that surely stuck in Jones' craw, the Broncos obviously valued Allen more, especially in light of Vance Joseph returning to Denver to coordinate the defense after four years spent in Arizona. On Monday, 9NEWS' Mike Klis provided some insight into why the Broncos valued Allen more than Jones.
"On defense, the Broncos’ brass considered defensive tackle Zach Allen to be consistently better against the run than Dre’Mont Jones. Better run defense means opponents won’t have as much possession time. More time for Russ and the offense."
Jones earned a 42.8 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus last year. In Arizona, meanwhile, Allen's grade against the run was 67.4, which is very good based on PFF's grading scale.
For those worried that the Broncos might be losing out somewhat in the pass-rush department, it will encourage you to learn that Jones' grade in that department last year was 67.3, while Allen's was 71.6. Jones did produce a team-high 6.5 sacks in 2023, but in four years in Denver, he averaged just 5.5 QB take-downs per season.
Since becoming a full-time starter in 2021, Allen has notched 9.5 sacks, which, on the surface, doesn't seem like much to write home about, but relative to his position as an interior pass rusher, it's more than solid. Combine it with his, at times, dominance in the run game, and Allen was simply viewed as the more valuable player by the Broncos.
It's possible the Seahawks overpaid Jones on his three-year deal that'll pay him $17.1M per season. Meanwhile, the Broncos were over the moon at the prospect that they believe they upgraded Jones' spot on the D-line with a three-year pact with Allen worth $15.2M per year.
That's a nearly $2M/year savings. However, Allen garnered more guaranteed money in his deal ($32.5M), reportedly, than Jones ($30M). Plus, at 25 years old, Allen is a year younger than Jones.
Think of Allen as a player very similar to Super Bowl 50 champion Derek Wolfe. Take the Wolfe prototype, circa 2012-15, as an outline, and Allen comes dang close to fitting right into that figurative silhouette.
Wolfe was a significantly nastier player, and while Allen might not be known to threaten to eat the children of opposing quarterbacks, he'll represent the 'Don't Ever F*** With Us' (DEFWU) ethos the former Bronco instilled at Dove Valley with aplomb.
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