As the season chugs along, the Denver Broncos are watching players that insiders and fans have known for the last several years find much bigger audiences.
That’s what winning does. It brings you more attention.
The latest example comes in the form of voting for the Pro Bowl Games, where a pair of Broncos are in first place in the voting at their positions with NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Zach Allen and rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw.
That’s pretty impressive considering the Broncos have established star players like cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, quarterback Bo Nix and NFL All-Pro edge rusher Nik Bonitto on the roster.
Surtain and Nix didn’t even crack the Top 10 at their positions. Bonitto was at No. 2 for outside linebackers behind New York Giants star Brian Burns.
The Pro Bowl Games will take place on February 3, 2026, in San Francisco in the week ahead of Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8.
Allen Became Dominant NFL Force in Denver
Allen, 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds, was a third round pick (No. 65 overall) by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL draft. He was able to learn the ins and outs of the pro game from 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt in 4 seasons with Arizona before he signed a 3-year, $47.75 million free agent contract with the Broncos in 2023.
In Denver, Allen has established himself as one of the NFL’s elite interior defensive linemen. He had a career year in 2024 with 61 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 1 safety and a staggering 40 QB hits as he earned NFL All-Pro honors for the first time. It’s been more of the same in 2025 — he has 31 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 6 pass deflections and 30 QB hits through 12 games this season.
“I think Zach Allen is probably one of the most under-appreciated players in the National Football League,” ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit said during the Broncos’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 6.
More importantly, the Broncos are winning at a level not seen by the franchise in a decade. Denver snapped a 9-year playoff drought in 2024 and are 10-2 and on a 9-game winning streak headed into a Week 14 road game against the Raiders.
Allen cashed in big with the Broncos in the preseason, signing a 4-year, $102 million contract extension on August 2.
Crawshaw Massive Surprise for Broncos
Crawshaw, 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, is an Australian who became an All-SEC pick at the University of Florida before the Broncos selected him in the sixth round (No. 215 overall) of the 2025 NFL draft.
He’s been incredible in his first season. He’s second in the NFL in punts (61) and second in the NFL in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (24) while averaging 47.9 yards per punt.
“A four-year punter for the Gators, Crawshaw flashes good power from a quick delivery but will need to improve his hang time to keep NFL returners from chopping at his net average,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “He can be highly effective when he’s protected, with touch punts placing opponents near or inside their own 10-yard line.”
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