Zach Allen didn’t just settle in after the Broncos brought him in back in 2023 - he turned into one of the league’s most relentless pass rushers. Denver signed him as the answer to Dre’Mont Jones, who had left for the Seattle Seahawks, and plenty of people questioned the move at the time. Allen has spent the last few seasons making that doubt look pretty misplaced.
He was solid in 2023, then took off in 2024 and kept rolling in 2025. Since 2024, Allen has led the NFL in quarterback hits every year, and he’s piled up 120 QB hits in only 53 games with Denver. That works out to more than two per game, which is the kind of production that changes the shape of a defense.
Now, just three games into 2026, he’s somehow pushing even higher.
Allen has already posted 3 sacks, 8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 9 QB hits. That has him second in the NFL in QB hits, tied for fourth in sacks and tied for fifth in tackles for loss. If he keeps anywhere near this pace over a full 17-game season, the numbers would be eye-opening: 17 sacks, 45 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 51 QB hits.
That kind of production would put him in rare company again. In 2025, Allen earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after finishing with seven sacks, four tackles for loss and 47 QB hits.
If he gets to 40-plus QB hits for a third straight season, he’d remain in the same lane as J.J. Watt, the only player in NFL history to do it more than once and in three straight seasons.
And if Allen can get to 50-plus QB hits, that would only be the third time ever that’s happened. Watt owns the single-season record with 51 QB hits in 2014, one of the most dominant defensive seasons the league has ever seen. Allen would need 52 to take the all-time mark.
He’s not known as the stoutest run defender, but the Broncos are living with that because of what he does to opposing quarterbacks. His best seasons have come later in his career, and the source material notes that being a late bloomer likely takes Hall of Fame trajectory off the table. Even so, he’s been playing at that kind of level since the start of 2024.
Denver’s pass rush has also changed around him. John Franklin-Myers left in free agency last year, and Jonathon Cooper hasn’t been there either, so the Broncos are missing two players from the previous seasons.
That gives some reason to think the rush won’t be as dangerous overall. But if Allen keeps up this start to 2026, Denver may have a case to be the league’s best again.
In Other News...
Broncos Could Get A Dangerous Weapon Back Just In Time
Marvin Mims Jr. was back on the practice field in full Wednesday, a welcome sign for a Broncos offense that has been waiting to get one of its more explosive pieces back in the mix. The second-year wide receiver missed the last two games because of a foot injury, and his return to full participation suggests Denver may be getting close to restoring a dangerous vertical threat just in time for a matchup with the 49ers.
The Broncos will still have to wait for the rest of the week before anything is official, but Mims availability is suddenly a storyline worth watching. If he can keep trending in the right direction, Denver could have a timely boost in a game where every bit of speed and spacing matters. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Get Early Injury Relief Before A Huge 49ers Test
The Broncos got a little encouraging injury news early in the week as they began preparing for a tough test against the 49ers. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was back on the practice field after previously being seen in a walking boot, and Marvin Mims Jr. also logged a full session after being limited and then inactive for a game. Running back J.K. Dobbins was another welcome sight, practicing in full despite the hip issue that had been hanging over him.
There were still a few spots to monitor, though. Edge rusher Dondrea Tillman sat out with a hamstring issue, even if he was around the team, and defensive lineman Zach Allen was limited as the Broncos managed his workload for rest. With San Francisco looming, Denvers early-week health picture is trending in the right direction, but the availability of a few key pieces will still matter as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Is Flipping A Costly Trend From Last Season
Through three games in the Sean Payton era, the Broncos have found something that was hard to come by at times last season: takeaways. Denvers defense has already forced four interceptions, the most in the league so far, and has produced at least one turnover in every game, giving the unit a steadier edge than it showed a year ago.
The payoff has shown up in the numbers, too, with opposing quarterbacks managing only a 74.3 passer rating against Denver. For a team that spent much of last season chasing consistency on defense, the early return is encouraging, even if the real test will be whether this turnover streak can hold once the schedule starts to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]