The Denver Broncos and guard Quinn Meinerz agreed to a four-year, $80 million contract extension, according to multiple reports. The deal makes Meinerz one of the highest-paid guards in the league.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Meinerz, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, will get $45 million in guaranteed money. With a $20 million annually, he only trails Philadelphia Eagles’ Landon Dickerson ($21 million) and Atlanta Falcons’ Chris Lindstrom ($20.5 million).
Landing a lucrative extension is a major achievement for Quinn Meinerz, considering his unusual path to the NFL. He spent the first three years of his college career with Wisconsin–Whitewater and earned two All-WIAC nods before the pandemic caused the NCAA Division III to cancel its 2020 season.
Not being able to play football in 2020, Meinerz spent the year training on his own at his family’s hunting and fishing camp. He received a last-minute call to the Senior Bowl after Landon Dickerson was injured and ended up impressing scouts and helping his draft stock skyrocket. The Broncos ended up picking him Meinerz in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, making him the highest-selected player in Wisconsin–Whitewater and the school’s first draft pick in 14 years.
Meinerz rotated between right and left guard in his rookie season, starting 13 games at RG in 2022. He started all 17 games for the Broncos last season, playing 1,038 snaps, making four penalties, and allowing two sacks.
