ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has repeatedly stated simply how a lot he believes within the present roster, and the crew has saved writing checks to show it.
Heart Luke Wattenberg, one in all Denver’s fifth-round picks within the 2022 draft, and defensive sort out Malcolm Roach are the most recent key gamers to conform to contract extensions, changing into the second and third to take action previously week.
Sources confirmed Wattenberg, who has been the starter for the previous two seasons, agreed to a four-year, $48 million extension and Roach, who has 4.5 sacks and 64 tackles in two seasons with Denver, agreed to a three-year, $29.25 million extension that features $14 million assured.
The Broncos introduced the extensions for Wattenberg and Roach on Wednesday however didn’t disclose monetary phrases.
Wattenberg and Roach, who had been scheduled to be unrestricted free brokers in March, be part of a rising record of Broncos gamers to conform to an extension with the crew. Kicker Wil Lutz agreed to a three-year contract extension inside the previous week, and huge receiver Courtland Sutton, defensive finish Zach Allen and outdoors linebacker Nik Bonitto agreed to multiyear extensions simply earlier than the beginning of the common season.
Payton stated earlier this week that Lutz had been one in all “a number of” gamers Denver had reached out to in latest weeks, together with final week’s bye, about contract talks. The Broncos (9-2) are on an eight-game successful streak, the crew’s longest since an 11-game streak in 2012.
“We frolicked [on contracts] — [GM George Paton] and I — earlier than the break and mentioned a variety of gamers that we’ll go to with,” Payton stated Monday. “The bottom line is not affecting the mojo or how your crew’s doing. I am at all times delicate to that, particularly whenever you’re enjoying nicely, as a result of generally these will be tough discussions.”
Earlier this season, Payton referred to as Wattenberg “an asset starter” and stated the 28-year-old had performed “very well” for Denver. Wattenberg took over because the starter final season when Lloyd Cushenberry III departed in free company, and he has began 24 video games over the previous two seasons, together with all 11 this 12 months.
The Broncos’ record of potential unrestricted free brokers nonetheless consists of linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, defensive finish John Franklin-Myers, working again J.Okay. Dobbins, and tight finish Adam Trautman. All have began video games this season.
