Broncos Best, Worst Contract Values Revealed After Week 1

The Denver Broncos spent a considerable sum of money this past offseason to upgrade the roster and give Russell Wilson a chance to bounce back after a disastrous 2022 campaign.

So how much are the Broncos getting in return for their investments?

One way to measure this is Over the Cap's valuation metric, which is explained here. Each week, OTC lists players by their positional value each week and gives fans an idea about how much they are getting in return.

Of course, it's not unusual to find that players on rookie contracts tend to deliver the most value in return, but there are those veterans who will prove to be worth the investment and, in some cases, give good value in return.

Let's look at some of the Broncos players and their valuation based on their Week 1 performance.

Russell Wilson | QB: $27.1M Value

Wilson had a solid performance in Week 1, though not off the charts. Still, some might wonder if he represents good value when you consider his APY salary is $49M.

However, a quick check of all quarterbacks for Week 1 shows a pattern — the veterans under expensive contracts didn't return much in value for Week 1. The likes of Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, Daniel Jones, Deshaun Watson, and Dak Prescott all failed to live up to their APY salaries for Week 1.

What this means is that when you have a QB on an expensive veteran contract, it's tough to get value in return. One shouldn't fret too much about this metric here.

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Quinn Meinerez | OG: $15.9M value

On the other hand, it's easier to measure the value for other positions because, for the most part, they are paid considerably less than QBs. And in the case of Meinerz, he's on his rookie contract.

Still, the Broncos got an excellent return on their investment in Meinerz. He looks like a keeper, and if he continues to play well, chances are good the Broncos will extend him sometime next year, when he will be eligible for an extension.

Alex Singleton | LB: $16.5M

There wasn't much to write home about regarding the defense in Week 1, but Singleton was a bright spot. His run defense was invaluable, as Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was mostly contained in last Sunday's game.

Singleton got a considerable raise in his three-year deal, averaging $6M per year, and he's off to a good start thus far. Some may have wondered if Singleton was a one-year wonder, but if he keeps up a high level of play, he'll prove the doubters wrong.

Patrick Surtain II | CB: $15.3M

It should come as no surprise that Surtain is giving the Broncos a high retrun on investment. His first-round pick deal averages $5.2M per year and many would say he's one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

Like Meinerz, Surtain will be eligible for an extension next season. He may be one of those first-round picks who demands an extension in his fourth year, even as the Broncos will still have his fifth-year option to exercise.

Mike McGlinchey | RT: $4.3M

On the other end of the scale is McGlinchey, who got essentially a three-year commitment in his contract. His first start wasn't good, though to be fair, he was often tasked with defending against elite pass rusher Maxx Crosby.

McGlinchey could face another test this week against the Washington Commanders, who have multiple players who can create pressure. While it's understandable that even the best will give up sacks to an elite pass rusher, the Broncos do need to see some improvement from McGlinchey in Week 2.

Justin Simmons | S: $2.9M

Simmons enters the third year of his contract and, as you can see, he underperformed his contract, which pays him $15.2M APY salary. He has started past seasons slowly, then played better as the season went on, so perhaps the same applies here.

The one thing to keep in mind is that Simmons will enter the final year of his deal in 2024, and there's no guaranteed money left. While Simmons wasn't bad in Week 1, his play can be better, and he needs to do that to justify staying with the Broncos next season.

Randy Gregory | OLB: $3.8M

The Broncos generated no pass rush in Week 1, and Randy Gregory stands out as one of those who vastly underperformed his contract value. While $13.9M APY doesn't put him among the highest-paid edge rushers, it's still a significant sum.

Gregory has no guaranteed money left after this season, so he is another player who could be released if he doesn't play well in 2023. We'll see if he shows more in Week 2 when he'll go against a QB who is still learning a lot about the game.

For the full accounting of Broncos players and contract valuation, you can visit OTC and sort through the list.

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