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Garett Bolles Seeking Third Broncos Contract; Patrick Surtain Addresses Extension Status

July 26th, 2024 at 4:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

While dead money somewhat overshadows the contracts still on the Broncos’ 2024 payroll, the team did just give an $18MM-per-year deal to Quinn Meinerz. That gives Denver four eight-figure AAVs on its offensive front, with Mike McGlinchey, Garett Bolles and Ben Powers tied to lucrative deals.

McGlinchey and Powers, signed weeks into Sean Payton‘s HC tenure, are respectively on deals that run through 2026 and 2027. This places Bolles in an uncertain position, as his extension — authorized during John Elway‘s final year as GM — expires after this season. Denver did not entertain trading its left tackle this offseason, but the team’s expenses elsewhere up front open the door to a lower-cost LT being in place come 2025.

Bolles, who is 32 despite being a 2017 first-rounder, continues to aim for another extension that keeps him in Denver for the rest of his career. The Utah alum has been lobbying for a new deal for an extended stretch now. A new deal would create more cap space for the Broncos this year, but it is unclear if they want Bolles around on another big-ticket accord.

“I love this city; I love this organization. I want to play my whole career here,” Bolles said, via 9News’ Mike Klis. “The front office knows that. They know I want to be a Bronco for life. My family’s here, established here. We love it here. We don’t want to go anywhere else. My job is just to play good football. The ball is in their court. I just got to do my job and the rest will take care of itself.”

Bolles is coming off a quality campaign, ranking 13th among tackles in pass block win rate and slotting 19th among all tackles in the view of Pro Football Focus. Despite an early-career issue with penalties, Bolles has never finished a season outside the top 30 in PFF’s tackle rankings. He could set himself up for an interesting free agency run in 2025, having only missed significant time due to injury in one season (2022). Bolles started all 17 Broncos games last season.

Bolles surpassed Ryan Clady in terms of games played by a Broncos left tackle last season, and although other Denver blockers have started for the team beyond Year 7, Bolles (99 career starts) would be the only post-merger option to line up as the Broncos’ primary left tackle in eight consecutive seasons.

One player whom the Broncos clearly do have in their long-term plans, Patrick Surtain is now extension-eligible. GM George Paton has said the team wants its top player in the fold beyond his rookie contract, and Surtain (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) confirmed the organization has expressed as much. Surtain, 24, has not set a hard deadline in terms of when he wants an extension, but the Broncos — after making the quick decision to exercise the All-Pro cornerback’s fifth-year option — have him signed for two more seasons.

Surtain was not as dominant last season as he was in 2022, when his play helped a dysfunctional Broncos squad stay afloat on defense. Surtain said Friday he views himself as the NFL’s top cornerback; a recent ESPN poll among anonymous executives agreed, despite the 2021 first-rounder not repeating his All-Pro 2022 showing last season.

Surtain and Sauce Gardner figure to move cornerback salaries well north of their present ceiling (Jaire Alexander‘s $21MM AAV). With Surtain entering the league a year earlier, he figures to be the player to help bridge the gap between corners and wide receivers. The market booms of 2018, 2022 and 2024 have created a staggering gulf between the top WR contract (Justin Jefferson‘s $35MM-per-year pact) and the CB ceiling.

As corners have been left behind, the Broncos’ negotiations with Surtain could become tricky. The team declined trade offers for the standout cover man at last year’s deadline, and Payton admitted he led a smokescreen effort — one that included Surtain’s name as a trade chip — connected to a quarterback-driven trade-up in April. When the Broncos enter substantive talks with Surtain, it should be considered likely he will want to become the position’s highest-paid player by a notable margin.

Broncos Add Incentives To Courtland Sutton’s Contract

July 25th, 2024 at 11:10am CST by Adam La Rose

Courtland Sutton attended Broncos’ training camp in anticipation of a new financial arrangement being worked out. That has now taken place, with the Pro Bowl wideout agreeing to new money being added to his pact.

Sutton has received $1.5MM in additional incentives, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He can now earn up to $15.2MM over the course of the 2024 campaign. The 28-year-old remains under contract through 2025, but this agreement will not change his scheduled earnings for next year. Sutton was originally due $2MM guaranteed over the remainder of his pact, which drove his efforts to land a new deal.

The former second-rounder skipped voluntary OTAs while seeking added compensation for the immediate future. Sutton was due a $13MM base salary in 2024 prior to today’s agreement, one which 9News’ Mike Klis confirms does not lock in a larger portion of his earnings in addition to the incentives being added on. He took part in mandatory minicamp, a move which avoided fines being accumulated. The same held true of training camp attendance.

Sutton signed a four-year, $60MM extension in 2021, a period before the numerous shifts which have taken place in the receiver market. The top of the positions’ pecking order has surged to $35MM per season, a mark Sutton did not realistically have a chance of approaching. Still, the SMU product will be able to increase his earning potential in 2024 as he looks to duplicate his strong campaign from last year. Sutton recorded a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2023, and he is positioned to remain Denver’s top receiver moving forward.

The Broncos traded away Jerry Jeudy this offseason, dealing the former first-rounder the Browns. Denver also still has Tim Patrick in the fold, and he will contribute starting production if he can remain healthy. Sutton represents the most experienced (six-year veteran) and productive (298 career receptions, 4,259 yards) option at the WR spot as the team spends the coming weeks determining its starting quarterback.

Sutton’s deal does not contain any guaranteed salary for the 2025 season, so today’s move could need to be repeated next offseason. Much of his bargaining power will, of course, depend on his production during Year 2 of head coach Sean Payton‘s tenure guiding the offense. With an upgraded deal in place, Sutton can now turn his attention to training camp and preparations for his seventh campaign in the Mile High City.

Broncos, Quinn Meinerz Agree On Extension

July 24th, 2024 at 11:30am CST by Sam Robinson

JULY 24: The base value of Meinerz’s deal will leave the NFL’s $20MM-per-year guard count at four. This contract checks in at four years and $72MM, according to OverTheCap. Of Meinerz’s $45MM guarantee, $24MM is locked in at signing. Incentives cover $8MM in this deal, which could take it to $80MM if maxed out.

The improving guard secured a rolling guarantee structure for 2026 as well. If Meinerz is on Denver’s roster by Day 5 of the 2025 league year, his 2026 base salary ($14.86MM) becomes guaranteed. Meinerz’s 2024 and ’25 base salaries are guaranteed at signing. If Meinerz is on the Broncos’ roster by Day 5 of the 2027 league year, $6.14MM of his 2027 base ($17.49MM) will become guaranteed.

JULY 16: Already carrying three veteran contracts on their offensive line, the Broncos are adding a fourth. Quinn Meinerz is now Denver’s highest-paid blocker, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reporting the team’s ascending right guard has an extension in place.

The former third-round pick agreed to a four-year deal worth $80MM; $45MM will be guaranteed to the Division III product. Meinerz, who has become one of the NFL’s better guards over the past two seasons, is now signed through the 2028 season. This eclipses Garett Bolles‘ deal for the most lucrative pact handed to an O-lineman in Broncos history.

Earlier this offseason, we mentioned Meinerz as an extension candidate. The Broncos will have some more breathing room beginning in 2026, when the Russell Wilson dead money is off the books, and Meinerz will be paired with Bo Nix‘s rookie contract. While right tackle Mike McGlinchey is locked in through at least 2025, Bolles is playing on an expiring contract. Left guard Ben Powers‘ four-year deal also pays out its guarantees this season. Meinerz now sits as the top investment along Denver’s O-line, becoming the NFL’s fifth $20MM-per-year guard.

Meinerz’s deal follows Quenton Nelson, Chris Lindstrom, Landon Dickerson and Robert Hunt in the $20MM-AAV club at this increasingly valuable position. This contract matches the Hunt and Nelson deals for AAV; Dickerson remains the NFL’s highest-paid guard. Although Meinerz has yet to be selected for a Pro Bowl, the interior mauler — known at one point for his “The Belly” alias — has been one of the top-rated guards over the past two seasons.

While GM George Paton made some memorably bad decisions in 2022 — the Wilson trade/extension, the Nathaniel Hackett hire — his 2021 draft class has panned out thus far to help keep the team afloat. Meinerz joins Patrick Surtain as the anchors from that group, though the Broncos have a few other contributors from Paton’s first offering as a GM. Pro Football Focus graded Meinerz as a top-five guard in 2022 and slotted him third among guards last season. The advanced metrics site placed Meinerz, 25, as the NFL’s best run-blocking guard in 2023.

Sean Payton was not present for Meinerz’s arrival, but the second-year Broncos boss has long placed a premium on interior O-line success. Payton invested heavily in interior blockers to help protect Drew Brees; current Broncos O-line coach Zach Strief was part of that effort. Jahri Evans became a pillar for the Saints, while the team also used first-round picks to acquire Andrus Peat and Cesar Ruiz. Erik McCoy, who has become one of the NFL’s top centers, arrived via second-round pick during the end of Payton’s New Orleans run.

The Saints also signed Larry Warford to a big-ticket free agent deal in 2017, the same year the Broncos added Ronald Leary in free agency. Denver did not see Leary or 2020 free agent guard signee Graham Glasgow provide sufficient value, but the team continued down the free agent path with Powers. The late-blooming Ravens success story started 17 games alongside Meinerz last season. Powers, 27, is signed through 2026. The Broncos have bigger plans for Meinerz, who has become one of the NFL’s most unique success stories in recent years.

The COVID-19 pandemic nixed Division III’s 2020 season, leading Meinerz to train on his own ahead of the draft. A Senior Bowl invite, along with some mid-’80s Rocky Balboa-like training techniques, propelled the Wisconsin-Whitewater product to a Day 2 investment.

Replacing an injured Glasgow in 2021, Meinerz has started 39 career games. A Meinerz extension likely factored into the Broncos’ decision not to re-sign Dalton Risner last year — though, the four-year guard starter did not prove to be expensive in free agency — and the team will aim for Meinerz to block for Nix for many seasons moving forward.

Broncos WR Courtland Sutton Expected To Attend Training Camp

July 23rd, 2024 at 8:56pm CST by Ben Levine

While there hasn’t been a resolution on Courtland Sutton‘s contract, the wide receiver is expected to participate in training camp. Sean Payton told reporters (including Ryan McFadden of The Denver Post) that he expects the wideout to practice with the team this week. The Broncos are set to hit the practice field for the first time on Wednesday.

Payton also acknowledged that he hasn’t talked with the receiver about his contract dispute, but the coach is confident it won’t be a distraction. Sutton is still attached to a four-year, $60MM extension that runs through 2025. The 28-year-old is believed to be pushing for a raise on his $13MM 2024 base salary, with $16MM being the receiver’s expected asking price. Sutton also only has $2MM more in guaranteed money coming his way, so the player is presumably seeking some more financial certainty, as well.

The receiver previously reported to Denver’s minicamp, but he kept the door open to a potential training camp holdout. That route would have made Sutton subject to fines, and he wouldn’t have been able to recoup any of that lost value since he’s already attached to a veteran contract.

The former second-round pick hasn’t establish himself as a top-tier WR in the NFL, but he still has put together five 700-plus-yard seasons. He’s been remarkably consistent over the past three years, averaging 60 catches and 792 receiving yards over the span. After hauling in four touchdowns between 2021 and 2022, Sutton caught a career-high 10 scores in 2023. The veteran has seemingly been connected to trade rumors for years, but the wideout has continued to stick around through multiple regimes and multiple QBs.

While the Broncos have time on their hands, there is some merit to keeping Sutton happy while assuring the veteran is locked in beyond the 2025 campaign. The organization already moved on from a trade-rumor mainstay in Jerry Jeudy, which only puts more reliance on Sutton as the top receiver. The team also moved off Russell Wilson and replaced him with first-round QB Bo Nix, so Sutton’s experience will surely come in handy in the upcoming years.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/21/24

July 21st, 2024 at 8:52pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions to wrap up this final weekend before training camps begin:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Broncos RBs Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine Competing For One Spot?

July 20th, 2024 at 8:51am CST by Ben Levine

With two young running backs expected to earn a pair of roster spots in Denver, the Broncos may have to choose between two of their more experienced rushers. Troy Renck of the Denver Post believes Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine are ultimately competing for one roster spot.

This would be an unfortunate turn of events for Williams, who was a second-round pick only three years ago. The North Carolina product never truly got a chance to lead the backfield in Denver. He did top 1,200 yards from scrimmage as a rookie, but he still split most of his reps that season with veteran Melvin Gordon. Then, his sophomore season was limited to only four games thanks to a torn ACL, LCL, and posterolateral corner.

To Williams’ credit, he managed to return and start 13 of his 16 appearances in 2023. However, he averaged only 3.6 yards on his 217 carries, and while he finished the year with 47 receptions, that resulted in only 228 yards. While that drop in production could easily be attributed to his recovery from a devastating knee injury, the Broncos will surely use training camp and preseason to evaluate the running back ahead of the 2024 campaign. For what it’s worth, Renck observed that Williams “looked bigger and stronger” during the spring.

Perine was productive during his first season in Denver, finishing with a career-high 50 receptions and 693 yards from scrimmage. Heading into his age-29 season, Perine is the most veteran member of the Broncos RB corps, and with rookie Bo Nix under center, the Broncos may lean on the former fourth-round pick (especially in the passing game). Still, as Renck notes, Williams has also proved to be a capable pass-catcher, so the offense wouldn’t be completely lost without Perine.

Renck believes rookie fifth-round pick Audric Estime will earn one of the spots on the depth chart. The Notre Dame product had a breakout campaign in 2023, finishing the year with 1,341 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. The rookie suffered a knee injury during OTAs but is expected to be a full participant at training camp.

The team is also expected to hang on to Jaleel McLaughlin. The 2023 UDFA had a productive rookie season in Denver, finishing with 570 yards from scrimmage. He also notably hauled in 31 of his 36 targets, perhaps making him an option on third downs.

The NFL’s Eight-Figure Dead Money Hits For 2024

July 18th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL moved into new territory this offseason, with one Broncos decision creating a staggering gap between the most costly dead money hits and No. 2 on the all-time list. Beyond Denver’s Russell Wilson release, other teams are taking on notable dead cap hits in 2024. Here are the players who will account for more than $10MM in dead money on teams’ payrolls this year.

  1. Russell Wilson, QB (Broncos): $53MM
  2. Stefon Diggs, WR (Bills): $31.1MM
  3. Kirk Cousins, QB (Vikings): $28.5MM
  4. Haason Reddick, EDGE (Eagles) $21.52MM
  5. Jamal Adams, S (Seahawks) $20.83MM
  6. J.C. Jackson, CB (Chargers): $20.83MM
  7. David Bakhtiari, T (Packers): $18.15MM
  8. Danielle Hunter, EDGE (Vikings): $14.91MM
  9. Carlton Davis, CB (Buccaneers) $14.1MM
  10. Andrus Peat, OL (Saints): $13.64MM
  11. Kevin Byard, S (Titans): $13.36MM
  12. Mike Williams, WR (Chargers): $12.46MM
  13. Aaron Jones, RB (Packers): $12.36MM
  14. Chandler Jones, EDGE (Raiders): $12.27MM
  15. Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): $12.19MM
  16. Keenan Allen, WR (Chargers): $11.62MM
  17. Xavien Howard, CB (Dolphins): $11.41MM
  18. Michael Thomas, WR (Saints): $11.19MM
  19. Laken Tomlinson, G (Jets): $10.74MM
  20. Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): $10.64MM
  21. Arik Armstead, DL (49ers) $10.31MM
  22. Quandre Diggs, S (Seahawks): $10.26MM
  23. Byron Jones, CB (Dolphins): $10.1MM
  24. Maliek Collins, DT (Texans): $10MM

Months after trading for Wilson, the Broncos gave the decorated quarterback a five-year, $245MM extension. While Wilson offered something of a bounce-back effort from a shockingly mediocre 2022, Sean Payton‘s team still opted to designate him as a post-June 1 cut. Wilson’s $37MM injury guarantee, which the Broncos attempted to move in an effort that led to NFLPA involvement but no grievance, would have resulted in comparable dead money in 2025 had he remained on Denver’s roster on Day 5 of the 2024 league year and then been released next year.

The Broncos will receive a small cap credit — due to Wilson’s veteran minimum Steelers deal — in 2025, but the team will take on more than $83MM in total dead money from the release. This shatters the NFL record for dead money, which the Falcons previously held by trading Matt Ryan ($40.5MM), and the contract will remain on Denver’s books through the 2025 season. The Broncos opted to take on more dead money this year than next, separating this post-June 1 cut from most teams’ strategies.

The Bills’ decision to trade Diggs less than two years after giving him a four-year extension broke the non-QB dead money record. Unlike the Wilson matter, Buffalo will take on the Pro Bowl wide receiver’s full dead cap hit this year. Ditto Green Bay, which passed on a Bakhtiari post-June 1 designation. The Chargers will also be rid of the Allen and Williams responsibilities after 2024. The Seahawks also passed on post-June 1 designations with Adams and Diggs.

New Orleans has Thomas set to count more than $9MM in dead money in 2025 as well due to using the June 1 strategy. The Dolphins are still paying out the Jones contract from a 2023 post-June 1 designation, while Howard’s post-June 1 status will create a $15.7MM dead money penalty in 2025.

Void years created the Vikings’ Cousins cap hit. After attempting to negotiate a fourth contract with the veteran quarterback last year, the parties failing to come to terms resulted in void years being added in a restructure. The Falcons came in much higher than the Vikings were willing to go, guarantee-wise, leading Minnesota to a new QB path and significant Cousins dead money.

The Eagles also included three void years on Reddick’s contract, and the Buccaneers will eat some Evans dead money — despite re-signing the 11th-year wide receiver just before free agency — due to a void year-driven trigger before the latest contract was signed.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/17/24

July 17th, 2024 at 6:47pm CST by Ely Allen

Some roster movement today in minor transactions as several teams are starting to add players to early injured lists:

Chicago Bears

  • Placed on active/NFI list: T Kiran Amegadjie
  • Placed on active/PUP list: DT Jamree Kromah

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Seattle Seahawks

There was good news on the Horton front back in May as it was announced that the Texans defender had completed his final treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma. As a rookie out of TCU, Horton sat out the final seven games of the 2023 season on the non-football illness list. As he continues to work his way back to the field, it appears he’ll start the summer on the list, as well.

Thompson’s situation in Kansas City also received some good news of late. After suffering a seizure that caused him to go into cardiac arrest in early-June, the Chiefs defender continues to make progress towards a return. He’ll start the summer on the non-football injury list but will continue to work his way back as he continues with medical procedures, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic.

AFC West Notes: Broncos, Gallup, Chargers

July 17th, 2024 at 5:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rumored to be at an impasse with the Broncos regarding his contract, Courtland Sutton said recently he is not certain he will show for training camp. It should be considered more probable than not the seventh-year wide receiver reports due to the hefty fines (at least $50K per day) that would pile up if he skipped. One sign Sutton is a decent bet to resurface in Denver next week: he attended throwing sessions with Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix recently. An SMU product who grew up near Houston, Sutton was among the pass catchers in attendance at the Stidham-organized workouts, 9News’ Mike Klis notes.

Sutton showing represents a good sign for Denver fans. Though, the 6-foot-4 target missed nearly the entire offseason program — and time to establish a rapport with the first-round QB — before making a minicamp cameo. Sutton, 28, has angled for a raise. He is tied to a four-year, $60MM deal that runs through 2025. Only $2MM of the former Pro Bowler’s $13MM 2024 base salary is guaranteed, though the rest of it will lock in just before Week 1.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

Broncos Not Looking To Trade Garett Bolles

July 14th, 2024 at 10:23pm CST by Rory Parks

Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles is entering the final year of his current contract and is due a non-guaranteed $15.75MM base salary this season, to go along with a team-high $20MM cap hit. A trade or extension would have eased the burden on Denver’s cap, which is currently bloated by a league-leading $67.65MM in dead money stemming largely from the Russell Wilson release.

As Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post writes, however, the Broncos made it clear throughout the offseason that they are not looking to trade Bolles, their longest-tenured player. That makes it sound as if other clubs contacted Denver about acquiring the 2017 first-rounder, though there have been no public reports in that regard. Teams did check in on Bolles in the run-up to last year’s trade deadline, with the Broncos rebuffing overtures for all of their offensive talent.

Despite their resistance to any trade interest, the Broncos also do not seem to be in any hurry to extend Bolles. We heard in November that Bolles is interested in a new multiyear pact, and while the two sides could always open negotiations, it currently appears that the team is prepared to simply let their LT play out his contract and revisit the situation in 2025.

There is some logic to that. Denver is clearly in rebuild mode, so carving out cap space for 2024 is not necessarily a top priority, and authorizing a big-ticket extension for a 32-year-old blocker may not be the best use of limited resources (although it may have allowed the club to retain center Lloyd Cushenberry, who defected to the Titans in free agency). A trade for draft capital would have contributed to the rebuilding effort, but despite the Broncos’ bleak competitive outlook for the upcoming campaign, there is perhaps more value in having an established blocker protect the blind side of either Jarrett Stidham or first-round rookie Bo Nix, whom the team hopes will become its franchise QB.

While Bolles has never earned Pro Bowl honors, he has been a solid, starting-caliber LT since he entered the league, even considering his struggles with penalties during the early stages of his professional tenure. While he has been unable to replicate his elite 2020 performance, which made him Pro Football Focus’ third-highest-graded tackle that season and which earned him the four-year, $68MM extension he is about to finish up, he has mostly justified that investment.

He has also proven to be durable, with 2022 representing the only season in which he missed significant time due to injury. Bolles’ desire for a new contract notwithstanding, he was present for all of the Broncos’ voluntry workout this offseason, as Gabriel observes.

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