One of the NFL's top young offensive linemen, Quinn Meinerz is getting a Mile High raise.
Meinerz and the Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a four-year, $80 million extension, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday. The deal includes $45 million in guarantees.
The 2021 NFL Draft third-round draft pick was headed into the final season of his rookie deal with a $3.36 million base salary due. General manager George Paton and Co. decided to lock up the 25-year-old for the future -- and before training camp -- with a contract that puts him among the highest-paid guards in the league. Going strictly off new money, Meinerz' $80 million total contract salary is tied for fourth among guards (third for right guards) and his $20 million annual average is tied for third (tied for second for RGs).
In 2023, Meinerz garnered an 83.7 overall grade from PFF -- tops in his three seasons so far and third among guards behind only the Atlanta Falcons' Chris Lindstrom (87.7) and the Los Angeles Rams' Kevin Dotson (84.4). Thus, his paycheck will now match his performance and continue an unbelievable football journey for the Division III product who has emerged as an NFL standout only three years after losing his senior season at Wisconsin-Whitewater due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through his three seasons, Meinerz has played in 45 games with 39 starts, improving each year. He started all 17 games last season at right guard, allowing two sacks and bulldozing foes in the running game, as evidenced by his 88.7 PFF grade in run blocking.
Heading into training camp, the Broncos will have a quarterback competition between rookie first-rounder Bo Nix, Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham. While it remains to be seen who Denver's starting QB will be come Week 1 of the 2024 season, the Broncos have smartly secured a massive building block up front for the foreseeable future.