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Bronco Rookie Salary Expectations

May 13 2012; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive tackle Derek Wolfe (95) and defensive end Jeremy Beal (93) during mini camp at Broncos headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE
May 13 2012; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive tackle Derek Wolfe (95) and defensive end Jeremy Beal (93) during mini camp at Broncos headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE

Rookie Mini camp is the current happening at Dove Valley these days. A new draft class for the Denver Broncos learn the intricacies of their new job routines. As we wait for more news on our favorite team, it’s time to speculate on rookie salaries. The new CBA has enabled a Rookie Salary Cap and with it a new structure. Draft picks will be easier to slot, so there shouldn’t be any holdouts. The only negotiation items will likely be the guaranteed money for first round players. That shouldn’t impose any difficulties for the Denver Broncos since they traded out of the first round in this year’s Draft. There have been quite a few signings already, which should make guesstimating the Bronco rookie deals easier than previous years.

So far, the highest signed player is LB Luke Kuechly. Taken with the #9 overall pick, the Carolina Panthers signed him to a 4-year, $12.58M contract. Meanwhile, as I stated above, the Broncos traded back to the 2nd-round to make their first draft selection. Here are the salaries around Derek Wolfe at #36.

Round Pick Player Team Length Amount Signing Bonus Guaranteed
2 35 Courtney Upshaw Baltimore 4-yrs $5,296,698 $2.292M $3.587M
2 36 Derek Wolfe Denver
2 37 Mitchell Schwartz Cleveland 4-yrs $5.17M
2 38 Andre Branch Jacksonville
2 39 Janoris Jenkins St. Louis
2 40 Amini Silatolu Carolina 4-yrs $4.937M $2.03M $3.1M



Note: All draft picks will get a 4-year deal. First-round picks may get a club option 5th year.

From this, we can determine that Derek Wolfe will get a 4-year deal for approximately $5.23M, with a possible $2.23M Signing Bonus and $3.51M in G-Jack.

Brock Osweiler may be harder to figure because he is a Quarterback and they generally make more money. He is not expected to start right away, so his contract will be laden with future performance bonuses. Still, the basic package should not be too different from the players around him. Based on that, I project his deal to be worth very close to what Mike Adams signed for.

Round Pick Player Team Length Amount Signing Bonus
2 56 Mike Adams Pittsburgh 4-yrs $3.54M $1.01M
2 57 Brock Osweiler Denver
2 58 Lavonte David Tampa Bay
2 59 Vinny Curry Philadelphia 4-yrs $3.23M $807,950



Ronnie Hillman’s numbers are a little tougher to determine because the closest players under contract are 4 slots above and 8 slots below him. I’m going to project him at $3.12M and a signing bonus of $805,000.

Round Pick Player Team Length Amount Signing Bonus
2 63 Rueben Randle NY Giants 4-yrs $3.291M $834,132
3 67 Ronnie Hillman Denver
3 75 Russell Wilson Seattle 4-yrs $2.99M $619,400



For Omar Bolden, it looks like he will get $2.575M and a $475,000 signing bonus. Philip Blake will receive similar numbers as Devon Wylie -- $2.555M and a $455,000 signing bonus

Round Pick Player Team Length Amount Signing Bonus
4 100 Travis Benjamin Cleveland 4-yrs $2.577M $477,000
4 101 Omar Bolden Denver
4 102 Kirk Cousins Washington
4 103 Frank Alexander Carolina 4-yrs $2.57M $470,252
4 107 Devon Wylie Kansas City 4-yrs $2.555M $455,000
4 108 Philip Blake Denver
4 109 Alameda Ta’amu Pittsburgh 4-yrs $2.565M $433,000



Malik Jackson will get somewhere close to $3.1M $2.3M for his 4-year rookie contract.

Round Pick Player Team Length Amount Signing Bonus
4 127 Adrien Robinson NY Giants 4-yrs $2.48M $385,652
5 137 Malik Jackson Denver
5 143 Josh Norman Carolina 4-yrs $2.21M



Broncos 6th round pick Danny Travathan should get in the neighborhood of $2.199M for 4- years.

Round Pick Player Team Length Amount Signing Bonus
6 184 Isaiah Frey Chicago 4-yrs $2.206M
6 188 Danny Trevathan Denver
6 198 Tommy Streeter Baltimore 4-yrs $2.194M $94,500



So that is what the 2012 Denver Broncos rookie class should expect for salary compensation. Now it’s up to them, their Agents and the team to get the deals done.

Go Broncos!

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