Broncos 2025 position preview: Zach Allen, Denver DL should be among the best in the business

Sixth in a series previewing the Broncos 2025 roster in the weeks leading up to the start of training camp in late July.

Last week: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive line On the roster (10): Zach Allen, D.J.

Jones, John Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach, SaiVion Jones, Jordan Jackson, Eyioma Uwazurike, Matt Henningsen, Jordan Miller, Kristian WilliamsHow many on the 53? 5-6.

This is going to be one of the most difficult position groups on the roster to crack.

Allen is coming off the best year of his career (8.5 sacks, 67 pressures) and has been durable since arriving in Denver (only one game missed).

D.J.

Jones, Franklin-Myers and Roach all have well-defined roles and Denver traded up late in the third round of Aprils draft to select a high-upside player in SaiVion Jones.

That leaves maybe one spot left on the 53-man roster.

Maybe.Most impactful offseason move: Re-signing Jones to a three-year, $39 million deal with $26 million in guarantees.Jones played well in the final year of his deal but wasnt a sure bet to return.

The Broncos, however, locked up the 30-year-old on the eve of free agency, ensuring that their entire group from 2024 is set to return this fall.

It gives perhaps the NFLs most disruptive defensive line a remarkable level of continuity.

Denver made several flashier additions this offseason, like ILB Dre Greenlaw, S Talanoa Hufanga and offensive skill players TE Evan Engram and RB J.K.

Dobbins, but Jones locker room presence and stout play against the run are integral if unheralded ingredients to Vance Josephs defense.Biggest question to answer in camp: Is the rookie ready to contribute right away?There are also questions about contract extensions at present, Allen, Franklin-Myers and Roach are all entering the final year of their contracts and some of those decisions could come soon.

In terms of the 2025 season on the field, though, this group is stacked.

SaiVion Jones looks like a potential long-term replacement for Franklin-Myers, but for now, the question is whether he shows enough in camp to earn a spot in Denvers rotation.

Denver would do well to get Allen a little more rest than he got last year, when he played a career-high 964 snaps.

Perhaps JFM and Roach can take a few of those, but if Jones is ready right away, he could be part of the equation, too.Battle to watch: Jackson vs.

Uwazurike vs.

Henningsen.

Jackson took a big step forward last year remember, GM George Paton and head coach Sean Payton said he made the roster easily and now hes probably looking at having to make it as the last guy at the position once again.

Last year, he played in all 17 games (27% of snaps defensively, 35% on special teams).

In the case of Denvers pair of 2022 Day 3 draft picks, Uwazurike was on the active roster all year last year and Henningsen spent the fall on the practice squad.

Theyve both got their work cut out to crack the roster this summer.Related ArticlesBroncos 2025 position preview: Denver in good spot for strong offensive lineBroncos early offensive two-deep projection shows limited starting spots up for grabsRenck: When Broncos deliver NFLs best defense, Malcolm Roach will be a reason whyBroncos 2025 position preview: Evan Engram poised to elevate tight-end productionKeeler: Broncos bought in to Sean Payton, says Justin Simmons, who sees even bigger things for Bo Nix, Denver in 2025Under the radar player: Franklin-Myers.

Not that people dont know who JFM is.

His impact on last years group, though, might still be underappreciated.

Franklin-Myers not only topped 40 pressures (for the fifth straight year, according to Next Gen Stats) and logged a 12.6% pressure rate, but he unlocked Allen in a major way.

Defenses couldnt direct as much attention to Allen and thus both guys got an uptick in one-on-one chances.

The Broncos might be able to sign both long-term, but conventional wisdom is that Allen is first in line.

Regardless of whether JFM gets a good offer from Denver or hits free agency next spring, hes turning 29 this fall and will be a motivated player.

Another big year, and the 2018 fourth-round pick will cash in.Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis..

This article has been shared from the original article on denverpost, here is the link to the original article.