His unapologetic tendency to doing things his way has not always been warmly received, notably over the summer. Payton boasted about fooling everyone about the Broncos’ desire to trade up in the 2024 selection for a quarterback.
Instead, Payton and company believe that Bo Nix was always their first choice for the No. 12 overall pick in the draft. Whether the rest of the world believes it or not, Payton has the support of at least one player.
When asked about the overhauled quarterback room, veteran starter Zach Allen praised his head coach.
“The quarterback position is obviously the most crucial on the field. “And if anybody knows anything about quarterbacks, it’s Coach Payton,” Allen told Mike Klis of 9 News on May 9. “That is kind of the major deal. And, of course, as I have stated, I completely trust him.
Allen is entering his sixth NFL season, his second with the Broncos. He will most likely be playing for his third starting quarterback in that time span.
Jarrett Stidham, the incumbent, has institutional expertise and started two games last season.
However, the Broncos traded for former No. 2 overall pick and New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson before selecting Nix in the draft. Between his last snap and the next, Stidham may have dropped to third place on the depth chart.
Zach Allen: The Broncos are making ‘necessary changes’ under Sean Payton and George Paton
Allen has faith in General Manager George Paton and the strategy he and Payton have implemented for the Broncos.
“I have full faith in them,” Allen stated. “They’ve done an excellent job in terms of getting everyone to buy in and believe right now. That’s the main goal in the NFL right now, to get 90 men to really buy in. And the way the workouts and OTAs have gone thus far has been excellent, which is all you can really ask for.”
Allen played the first four seasons of his career for the Arizona Cardinals. He has already expressed his belief in the Broncos’ brain trust, and he put his money where his mouth is this offseason. He agreed to modify his three-year contract for $45.7 million.
The decision allowed the Broncos to slash about $20 million off their bottom line before free agency, despite entering the summer over the salary cap.
Allen had no complaints about the retooling they had done this offseason.
“Necessary changes are being made,” Allen stated to CTInsider.com’s Dave Stewart on April 8. “Coach Payton is wonderful; he’s the real deal, and the Walton family (team owners) has been fantastic with their investment in the squad. “They care about everything and everyone.”
Zach Allen & John Franklin-Myers Discussed teaming up
Allen will anchor one side of the Broncos’ defensive line, with trade acquisition John Franklin-Myers on the other.
It’s a fresh setup, but one that both players have considered previously.
“John and I have been talking the past few years about possibly playing together,” Allen told Klis on May 9. “I think we compliment each other quite nicely. We play the position similarly: tall and forceful.”
With a retooled linebacking corps and secondary, the Broncos expect to have at least five new defensive starters by 2024.
After ranking 29th in yards allowed previous season, the changes were necessary.
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