Troy Renck: Broncos should pay Zach Allen, Derek Wolfe says. And he's right.

DENVER — Zach Allen is a human Rice Krispie.

On the snap, he crackles and pops offensive linemen.

Wednesday, a single play explained his brilliance. Quarterback Bo Nix caught the ball in the shotgun and center Luke Wattenberg and left guard Ben Powers slid the protection over to Allen. With four hands and 610 pounds locked on his chest, Allen did not flinch, holding the point of attack and freeing edge rusher Nik Bonitto to get around Garett Bolles.

A few players later, Allen provided pressure up the middle, making a running back’s life miserable.

The Broncos are having the type of training camp that has players talking about the Super Bowl without smirking. They have a giddy coach, an ascending quarterback, a happy receiver and a nasty defense.

But it is going to feel hollow if they don’t hammer out a contract extension for Allen.

“I would pay him,” said ex-standout Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe, who knows a little something about Allen’s position. “He changes games and is always available.”

Can the Broncos Venmo $50 million?

Allen is in the final season of a three-year, $45 million deal. At $12.74 million this season, he has a Walmart rollback price tag dangling from his jersey. You should reserve Kleenex for more worthy causes. But in the business of the NFL, Allen is grossly underpaid.

“If we were playing the Broncos today and game-planning against the defensive line, the first thing we would say is, ‘How do we deal with No. 99?’ ” said former Broncos Pro Bowl guard Mark Schlereth. “I am not saying Nik Bonitto isn’t great. But the first guy has to be Allen because he is a handful and has the closest path to the quarterback.”

The Broncos delivered their best practice in three years Wednesday, according to tight end Adam Trautman. It was the perfect blend of competitive spirit and trash talk — Is Malcolm Roach fat or phat? — without it spilling over into fights.

And Allen was in the middle of it. And on the left side. And the right. His versatility and intensity have helped create an environment where players not only support one another but challenge each other.

The Broncos have taken a series of right steps under the Walton-Penner ownership group. When they bought the team in the summer of 2022, there was no rush to pay anyone, save for Russell Wilson. Three years later, the roster is so stacked, thanks to coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton, they have to prioritize them.

Courtland Sutton’s deal got done first for two reasons: 1) He was amenable to taking a little less to leave more for teammates, and 2) He was never going to approach the top of the scale at his position. Bonitto’s deal will get done last, likely during the season, because he is wisely waiting until Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson and Micah Parsons agree to new contracts.

Allen’s value is set. There is no new comp that will clear things up. His production indicates he deserves between $22 million and $25 million per season over four years. He has been that good. And he’s only 27.

He is exactly the type of player who should be rewarded. He doesn’t check every box. He is the box. Or the dresser at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds. Payton compared his motor to Saints star Cam Jordan.

Allen makes Vance Joseph’s defense work because he is smart — “He’s probably watching film right now,” nose tackle D.J. Jones said — and unselfish. He recognizes what opponents are trying to do, and if they dedicate too many resources in his direction, he gladly occupies blockers to let Broncos marauders Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper and John Franklin-Myers torch tackles.

But Allen is more often Johnny Carson than Ed McMahon.

Just Google his highlights.

Allen is too much for any one man to handle. He burst past Seattle’s Laken Tomlinson for a safety in the opener. He ran around Kansas City right guard Trey Smith for a sack, leaving him chasing like a puppy. He muscled through Raiders rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson as the kid dropped his head in shame. And he put Bills guard David Edwards on skates in the playoffs for some Allen on Josh Allen crime.

“I love the way that dude plays,” Wolfe said.

His 2024 contributions are quantifiable: 8.5 sacks, 40 quarterback hits and 67 pressures, the latter the most by an interior lineman, per Next Gen Stats.

Get this man a new contract, stat.

“Zach is able to get to the edge quick with hand swats. He knows when you are striking your hands, and he’s good at being able to knock them down, so you have to strike through him. He has the power to complement his speed,” said Powers, the left guard who spends chunks of practices lined up opposite the second-team All-Pro. “It makes him a really good pass rusher. And he brings it every play.”

The Broncos are cool again. It is clear the organization is in good hands with Payton. He has created a culture of accountability and an impressive roster.

But when a team is reaching for the clouds, it needs a few stars to light the path. The Broncos should not take their foot off the pedal now. Everything is headed in the right direction. The next mile marker in training camp is easy to see: a Zach Allen extension.

“He played next to J.J. Watt for a couple of years in Arizona. And the most sincere form of flattery is imitation. He has so many J.J. Watt traits, it’s crazy. He’s not J.J. Watt,” Schlereth said. “But he’s J.J. Watt Lite. I would definitely pay him.”

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