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Meinerz, Cooper lead Broncos in bonus pay

In formula where the less a player makes during the season, and the more he plays, the bigger the performance, Meinerz and Cooper each

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.

Credit: AP Images

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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