Breaking: The Denver Broncos guard becomes the highest paid in the NFL history.
$20 million more annually for security.
The Denver Broncos, who extended Quinn Meinerz, a previous draft pick, are the latest team in the NFL to have a guard earning $20 million annually. Due to the multiple guards that got massive deals in 2024, the guard market in the NFL has suddenly taken off. The most recent is Quinn Meinerz of the Broncos, who signed a four-year, $80 million contract deal.
There are currently five guards in total who earn $20 million or more annually. In addition to Meinerz, the annual incomes of Landon Dickerson, Chris Lindstrom, Robert Hunt, and Quenton Nelson total $20 million. Nine guards make at least $10 million a season, for a total of 19 guards who earn at least $15 million annually.
Eleven guards have at least $50 million in contract value. Watching the market explode in the last several seasons is just amazing. Since offensive line play is often inferior throughout the NFL, it is highly desired. Though guards are now paid somewhat like tackles, the left and right tackle positions are still unquestionably the most crucial on the offensive line.
If that makes sense, the center position is the lowest paid of the positions, yet even so, there are five centers that earn at least $10 million a season. Yes, the deals will only get greater because the NFL salary cap tends to increase primarily every season.
It has taken Quinn Meinerz a long time to get noticed; he was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of D3 Wisconsin-Whitewater. He became the NFL’s top run-blocking guard in 2023, and he’s also a really good pass-blocker.
Given that Meinerz, Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, and Mike McGlinchey are all signed to lucrative contracts, the Denver Broncos have made significant financial investments in their offensive line.
