ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The NFL and players union worked out a play-time bonus system where, in theory, the least shall by first.
Providing the least plays a lot.
The league announced Monday its player performance bonuses for the 2023 season, Every player who played received some kind of bonus. Quinn Meinerz, a third-round draft pick who made a relatively low wage of $1.095 million in 2023 but played 97 percent of the Broncos' offensive snap as a starting right guard, led the team with a $747,505 performance bonus to nearly double his wage.
Jonathon Cooper and Ja'Quan McMillian came closer to doubling their money. Cooper, a starting outside linebacker, received a nice $738,916 bonus to supplement his $940,000 salary. McMillian, who became the Broncos' nickelback after week 3, received a $750,000 salary in 2023 but a $624,585 play-time bonus.
Conversely, some of the highest-paid Broncos players in 2023 -- Russell Wilson, Justin Simmons, Garett Bolles and Courtland Sutton - received some of the smallest play-time bonuses.
Here are the 64 bonuses the Broncos received, in order from No. 1 Meinerz to No. 64 Tre'Quan Smith, who played in one game:
1. Meinerz, Quinn $747,505
2. Cooper, Jonathon $738,916
3. McMillian, Ja'Quan $624,585
4. Moreau, Fabian $526,249
5. Harris, Jonathan $485,433
6. Turner-Yell, Delarrin $386,827
7. Mathis, Damarri $375,984
8. Trautman, Adam $367,959
9. Cushenberry, Lloyd $356,911
10. Sanders, Drew $356,465
11. Locke, P.J. $342,562
12. Humphrey, Lil'Jordan $342,196
13. Burton, Michael $339,034
14. Bonitto, Nik $329,137.40
15. Mims, Marvin $325,603
16. Singleton, Alex $316,605
17. Henningsen, Matt 313,781
18. Browning, Baron, $302,302
19. Strnad, Justin $300,597
20. Johnson, Brandon $278,304
21. McLaughlin, Jaleel $218,298
22. Powers, Ben $202,470
23. Washington, Dwayne $199,889
24. Smith, Tremon $196,495
25. Moss, Riley $191,829
26. Williams, Javonte $190,733
27. Surtain, Patrick $189,021
28. Jackson, Kareem $168,835
29. Allen, Zach, $157,972
30. Manhertz, Chris $157,301
31. McGlinchey, Mike $157,198
32. Krull, Lucas $156,746
33. Perine, Samaje $141,669
34. Bassey, Essang $134,354
35. Purcell, Mike $131,428
36. Jeudy, Jerry $128,377
37. Adkins, Nate, $125,720
38. Fraboni, Mitchell $118,359
39. Bailey, Quinn, $114,361
40. Niemann, Ben $107,190
41. Perkins, Ronnie $100,097
42. Dixon, Riley $94,928
43. Wattenberg, Luke $79,105
44. Bolles, Garett $59,387
45. Simmons, Justin $55,024
46. Fleming, Cameron $50,652
47. Incoom, Thomas $43,917
48. Stidham, Jarrett $41,814
49. Jones, D.J. $41,051
50. Wilson, Russell $40,018.
51. Sutton, Courtland $39,949
52. Lancaster, Tyler $33,758
53. Lutz, Wil $32,665
54. Garcia, Elijah $31,181
55. Dorsett, Phillip $27,184
56. Dulcich, Greg $21,081
57. Sills, David $12,796
58. Key, Devon $10,394
59. Bandy, Michael $8,060
60. Skinner, J.L. $7,707
61. Gregory, Randy $6,436
62. Sterns, Caden $3,737
63. Clark, Frank $3,635
64. Smith, Tre'Quan $3,004
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