ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has repeatedly said just how much he believes in the current roster, and the team has kept writing checks to prove it.
Center Luke Wattenberg, one of Denver’s fifth-round picks in the 2022 draft, and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach are the latest key players to agree to contract extensions, becoming the second and third to do so in the past week.
Sources confirmed Wattenberg, who has been the starter for the past 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 includes $14 million guaranteed.
The Broncos announced the extensions for Wattenberg and Roach on Wednesday but did not disclose financial terms.
Wattenberg and Roach, who were scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in March, join a growing list of Broncos players to agree to an extension with the team. Kicker Wil Lutz agreed to a three-year contract extension within the past week, and wide receiver Courtland Sutton, defensive end Zach Allen and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto agreed to multiyear extensions just before the start of the regular season.
Payton said earlier this week that Lutz had been one of “several” players Denver had reached out to in recent weeks, including last week’s bye, about contract talks. The Broncos (9-2) are on an eight-game winning streak, the team’s longest since an 11-game streak in 2012.
“We spent time [on contracts] — [GM George Paton] and I — before the break and discussed a number of players that we’re going to visit with,” Payton said Monday. “The key is not affecting the mojo or how your team’s doing. I’m always sensitive to that, especially when you’re playing well, because sometimes those can be difficult discussions.”
Earlier this season, Payton called Wattenberg “an asset starter” and said the 28-year-old had played “really well” for Denver. Wattenberg took over as the starter last season when Lloyd Cushenberry III departed in free agency, and he has started 24 games over the past two seasons, including all 11 this year.
The Broncos’ list of potential unrestricted free agents still includes linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, defensive end John Franklin-Myers, running back J.K. Dobbins, and tight end Adam Trautman. All have started games this season.
