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.
Middle Luke Wattenberg, one among Denver’s fifth-round picks within the 2022 draft, and defensive deal with Malcolm Roach are the newest key gamers to comply with contract extensions and the second and third prior to now 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.
Wattenberg, who was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March, is the newest in a rising record of Broncos gamers to comply with an extension with the crew. Kicker Wil Lutz agreed to a three-year contract extension inside the previous week, and broad receiver Courtland Sutton, defensive finish Zach Allen and out of doors 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 among “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 profitable streak, the crew’s longest since an 11-game streak in 2012.
“We hung out [on contracts] — [GM George Paton] and I — earlier than the break and mentioned a lot of gamers that we will go to with,” Payton stated Monday. “The secret’s not affecting the mojo or how your crew’s doing. I am all the time delicate to that, particularly whenever you’re taking part in nicely, as a result of typically these might be troublesome discussions.”
Earlier this season, Payton referred to as Wattenberg “an asset starter” and stated the 28-year-old had performed “rather 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 yr.
The Broncos’ record of potential unrestricted free brokers nonetheless consists of linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, defensive finish John Franklin-Myers, operating again J.Okay. Dobbins, and tight finish Adam Trautman. All have began video games this season.