The Denver Broncos and guard Quinn Meinerz have agreed to a four-year, $80 million extension, according to NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The deal includes $45 million in guaranteed money. Meinerz, a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was entering the final season of his rookie contract with a $3.36 million base salary. By securing the 25-year-old ahead of training camp, General Manager George Paton has made Meinerz one of the highest-paid guards in the league. Based on new money, Meinerz’s $80 million total contract salary ranks fourth among guards and third for right guards, with his $20 million annual average tied for third overall and second for right guards.
In 2023, Meinerz earned an 83.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), ranking third among all guards behind the Atlanta Falcons’ Chris Lindstrom (87.7) and the Los Angeles Rams’ Kevin Dotson (84.4). This extension reflects his outstanding performance and remarkable journey from Division III football at Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he missed his senior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to becoming an NFL standout.
Over three seasons, Meinerz has played in 45 games with 39 starts, consistently improving each year. He started all 17 games at right guard last season, allowing only two sacks and excelling in run blocking with an 88.7 PFF grade.
As the Broncos head into training camp, they face a quarterback competition among rookie first-rounder Bo Nix, Zach Wilson, and Jarrett Stidham. While the starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2024 season remains uncertain, the Broncos have solidified a key piece of their offensive line for the future by securing Meinerz.
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