When the Denver Broncos signed Zach Allen back in 2023, the team essentially went out and 'replaced' the departed Dre'Mont Jones, who had signed a deal with the Seattle Seahawks. While many were skeptical of the Allen signing, he quickly proved why the move was the right one to make.
Allen was very good in 2023, but he truly broke out in 2024, and that continued into 2025. He's actually led the NFL in quarterback hits each year since 2024 and now has 120 QB hits in just 53 games with the Broncos, which comes out to more than two per game.
And while it is early in 2026, Allen is currently on pace to reach new heights in the NFL.
Denver Broncos' DE Zach Allen is on pace for another career-best year in 2026
Through three games, this is what Allen has produced so far:
3 sacks
8 tackles
3 tackles for loss
9 QB hits
Allen already ranks second in the NFL in QB hits, is tied for the fourth-most sacks, and is tied for the fifth-most tackles for loss. If he manages to keep this pace up for an entire 17-game season, his production would look like this:
17 sacks
45 tackles
17 tackles for loss
51 QB hits
For reference, Allen earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2025 with seven sacks, four tackles for loss, and 47 QB hits. Reaching that 40+ QB hit milestone for the third year in a row would continue to put him in the category with JJ Watt as the only players in NFL history to do this more than ones and for three-straight seasons.
If Allen is able to hit 50+ QB hits, it would only be the third instance ever of that happening, and, of course, he'd again find himself next to Watt in this all-time history. While he's not the most stout against the run, he makes up for it by getting to the QB more than any other player.
The most QB hits in a season does belong to Watt - he had 51 of those back in 2014, one of the best defensive seasons by any player in the history of the NFL. If Allen finds a way to hit 52 this year, he'd hold that all-time record.
His best seasons have come rather later in his career, so him being a late-bloomer likely does remove any possibility of carving out a Hall of Fame career, but he's been on that kind of pace since the start of the 2024 season.
The Broncos did lose John Franklin-Myers in free agency last year and have not had Jonathon Cooper, so the pass rush is missing two players from the to previous seasons. There is reason to believe that the Broncos simply won't be as lethal rushing the passer, but with the way Allen has played to begin 2026, it's possible that Denver is again the best in the league.
Getting to the QB is one of three most important pieces of a team being a legitimate Super Bowl contender, and it's abundantly clear that the Broncos have that box checked.
Add us as a preferred source on Google