NFL
Broncos, RG Quinn Meinerz Agree to Four-Year, $80M Deal
James is a dedicated sportswriter. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. James enjoys watching sports and helping gamblers win money.
Get to know James Foglio betterPublished17 Jul 2024
The Denver Broncos and right guard Quinn Meinerz agreed to a four-year, $80 million contract extension on Tuesday night, a source informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal runs through the 2028 season and includes $45 million guaranteed.
Denver Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz is now one of the highest-paid offensive linemen
Meinerz is now one of the highest-paid NFL guards. At an average annual value of $20 million, only Landon Dickerson and Chris Lindstrom will be paid more on a per-year basis than Meinerz among all guards, per Spotrac.
Meinerz, who turns 26 on Nov. 15, was selected 98th overall by the Broncos in the 2021 NFL draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He was the highest drafted football player in school history and the first since 2007.
Sources: Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz, who has started 39 games since Denver selected him out Wisconsin–Whitewater in the third round of the 2021 Draft, is g a four-year, $80 million contract extension that includes $45 million guaranteed and ties him to the team through the… pic.twitter.com/5puCKzozLj
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 17, 2024
The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Meinerz has appeared in 45 games (39 starts) since the 2021 season. During his rookie season, he played in 15 of the 17 regular-season games and started every game after Week 9.
According to Pro Football Focus, he received an 83.7 overall player grade for his efforts in the 2023 season. Only the Atlanta Falcons’ Chris Lindstrom (87.7) and the Los Angeles Rams’ Kevin Dotson (84.4) finished with higher overall grades at the position.
His 88.4 -blocking grade ranked second among NFL guards as well.
Meinerz was snubbed of his first career Pro Bowl last season
Despite his impressive performances, Meinerz was snubbed of his first career Pro Bowl. Although he was disappointed at the time, the Wisconsin native is more focused on winning a championship.
“I think I might have focused a little too much on being a Pro Bowl player [last year]. That’s not necessarily where I am focused at anymore,” he told Jon Heath of USA TODAY’s Broncos Wire in June.
Right guard Quinn Meinerz ranks second among NFL guards this season in PFF -blocking grade (88.4) 😤 pic.twitter.com/9eVQ6BO5a5
— PFF DEN Broncos (@PFF_Broncos) January 4, 2024
“I think that is kind of an individual thing that will happen as a byproduct of playing well and being consistent. At the end of the day, the thing that really matters to me most is postseason football.”
The Broncos haven’t qualified for the postseason since winning Super Bowl L against the Carolina Panthers.
Meinerz suffered a health scare last season in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers
While Meinerz did play great last season, he also suffered a health scare in Week 14.
In December, he spent a night in a Los Angeles-area hospital after experiencing shortness of breath and an elevated heart rate around halftime of the Broncos’ 24-7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Meinerz was examined by the team’s medical staff in the visiting locker room and then transported to the hospital. Upon further examination at the hospital, it was confirmed that Meinerz did have an elevated heart rate.
His doctors decided to keep him for overnight observation rather than clearing him to return to Denver with the team after the game.
“Certainly relieved that Quinn is healthy and is going to be fine,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after Meinerz was released from the hospital.
The Broncos open training camp on Friday, July 26.
