Broncos Make a Massive Gamble on Their Rising Center With a Stunning $39 Million Extension – A Number That Has Broncos Fans Shocked

Denver, Colorado – Today

The Denver Broncos made one of the boldest financial moves of their season by announcing a four-year extension for starting center Luke Wattenberg, worth a total of $39 million, including $27 million guaranteed. The deal instantly elevates Wattenberg into the upper tier of NFL centers in terms of salary.

For a player who entered the league as a fifth-round pick in 2022, this contract reflects just how much Denver values his development, consistency, and rising importance to the offensive line. Over the past two seasons, Wattenberg has quietly become one of the most stable pieces in Sean Payton’s offense — a center who rarely draws penalties, communicates protection adjustments cleanly, and plays with discipline that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet.

Still, the size of the deal stunned fans across Broncos Country.
$39 million for a center is not a number they hear often, and it sparked immediate debate whether Denver made a forward-looking masterstroke — or an expensive gamble.

But inside the organization, the confidence in Wattenberg is absolute. Coaches describe him as the “engine room” of the offensive line and a player whose growth curve continues to rise.

Head coach Sean Payton addressed concerns in a calm and steady tone, choosing not to name Wattenberg directly but leaving no doubt about the team’s belief in him:

“He’s the kind of player you want on any football team — disciplined, durable, and always improving. A lot of what he does doesn’t show up in the box score, but we see his value every day.”

The quote immediately reassured many fans. After all, if Sean Payton — one of the NFL’s most respected offensive minds — is fully behind the extension, then the organization likely sees something deeper than raw numbers.

Beyond financial implications, the move also reinforces Denver’s long-term strategy:
solidify the offensive line first, build the offense from the inside out, and establish long-term chemistry between Wattenberg and the quarterback position.

While opinions remain mixed, one truth stands firm:

The Broncos are betting big on Luke Wattenberg — not just for who he is today, but for who they believe he will become.

And if he continues on this upward trajectory, Broncos Country may soon realize that this $39 million investment wasn’t just bold…
it was the beginning of a new offensive foundation in Denver.