Luke Wattenberg

Denver Broncos, Center
Age: 28y-5m-25d (Sep 10, 1997)
Exp: 4 Years
Country: US
College: Washington
Drafted: Round 5 (#171 overall), 2022
Agent(s): Brian McLaughlin (VaynerSports)
2026 Cap Hit

$3,572,000

2026 Cash

$11,000,000

Career Earnings

$5,956,540

2025-2029 Extension (CURRENT)

Luke Wattenberg signed a 4 year, $48,000,000 contract with the Denver Broncos, including $2,000,000 signing bonus, $27,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $12,000,000. In 2026, Wattenberg will earn a base salary of $1,215,000 and a signing bonus of $9,785,000, while carrying a cap hit of $3,572,000 and a dead cap value of $11,000,000.
Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $48,000,000
Average Salary:
$12,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$2,000,000
GTD at Sign:
$13,000,000
Total GTD:
$27,000,000
Free Agent:
2030 / UFA
Year Age Status Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2025 28 $1,580,750 0.57% $3,108,820 $3,108,820 $11,366,667
2026 29 $3,572,000 1.18% $11,000,000 $14,108,820 $11,000,000
2027 30 $5,765,000 1.81% $12,000,000 $26,108,820 -
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 3 YR, $26,108,820; $0 DEAD CAP
2028 31 $8,157,000 2.44% $11,000,000 $37,108,820 -
2029 32 $10,298,000 2.82% $12,000,000 $49,108,820 -
2030 33
Void
UFA
$7,953,000 2.00% - $49,108,820 -
2031
Void
$5,996,000 1.38% - $49,108,820 -
2032
Void
$3,848,000 - - $49,108,820 -
2033
Void
$2,011,000 - - $49,108,820 -
2034
Void
- - - $49,108,820 -
2035
Void
- - - $49,108,820 -
2036
Void
- - - $49,108,820 -
2037
Void
- - - $49,108,820 -
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Active/GM Roster Bonus Option Proration Workout Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2025 28 $1,100,000 $471,930 - - $8,820 $1,580,750 0.57% $11,366,667
2026 29 $1,215,000 $400,000 - $1,957,000 - $3,572,000 1.18% $11,000,000
2027 30 $1,260,000 $400,000 - $4,105,000 - $5,765,000 1.81% -
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 3 YR, $26,108,820; $0 DEAD CAP
2028 31 $1,305,000 $400,000 $510,000 $5,942,000 - $8,157,000 2.44% -
2029 32 $1,435,000 $400,000 $510,000 $7,953,000 - $10,298,000 2.82% -
2030 33
Void
UFA
- - - $7,953,000 - $7,953,000 2.00% -
2031
Void
- - - $5,996,000 - $5,996,000 1.38% -
2032
Void
- - - $3,848,000 - $3,848,000 - -
2033
Void
- - - $2,011,000 - $2,011,000 - -
2034
Void
- - - - - - - -
2035
Void
- - - - - - - -
2036
Void
- - - - - - - -
2037
Void
- - - - - - - -
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Active/Gm Roster Bonus Option Bonus Workout Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2025 28 $1,100,000 $2,000,000 - - $8,820 $3,108,820 $3,108,820 $49,108,820
2026 29 $1,215,000 - - $9,785,000 - $11,000,000 $14,108,820 $46,000,000
2027 30 $1,260,000 - - $10,740,000 - $12,000,000 $26,108,820 $35,000,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 3 YR, $26,108,820; $0 DEAD CAP
2028 31 $1,305,000 - $510,000 $9,185,000 - $11,000,000 $37,108,820 $23,000,000
2029 32 $1,435,000 - $510,000 $10,055,000 - $12,000,000 $49,108,820 $12,000,000
2030 33
Void
- - - - - - $49,108,820 -
2031 34
Void
- - - - - - $49,108,820 -
2032 35
Void
- - - - - - $49,108,820 -
2033 36
Void
- - - - - - $49,108,820 -
2034 37
Void
- - - - - - $49,108,820 -
2035 38
Void
- - - - - - $49,108,820 -
2036 39
Void
- - - - - - $49,108,820 -
2037 40
Void
- - - - - - $49,108,820 -
Contract Notes

  • $13.36M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2025 salary + 2026 compensation)
  • $12M 2027 salary fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2026 (injury at sign)
  • $2M of 2028 salary fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2028 (injury at sign)
  • 2028-2029 Per Game Active Bonus: $30,000 ($510,000)
  • 2026 Option Bonus: $9.785M (exercise by 3/15/2026)
  • 2027 Option Bonus: $10.74M (exercise by Week 1)
  • 2028 Option Bonus: $9.185M (exercise by Week 1)
  • 2029 Option Bonus: $10.055M (exercise by Week 1)
  • 2030-2037 years automatically void 10 days before the 2030 league year


Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2022-2025 Rookie

Luke Wattenberg signed a 4 year, $3,947,720 contract with the Denver Broncos, including $287,720 signing bonus, $287,720 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $986,930.
Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $3,947,720
Average Salary:
$986,930
Signing Bonus:
$287,720
GTD at Sign:
$287,720
Total GTD:
$287,720
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
Year Age Status Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2022 25 $776,930 0.37% $992,720 $992,720 $287,720
2023 26 $941,930 0.42% $870,000 $1,862,720 $215,790
2024 27 $1,056,930 0.41% $985,000 $2,847,720 $143,860
2025 28
Voided
$1,180,750 0.42% $1,108,820 $3,956,540 $80,750
2026 29
UFA
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Workout Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2022 25 $705,000 $71,930 - $776,930 0.37% $287,720
2023 26 $870,000 $71,930 - $941,930 0.42% $215,790
2024 27 $985,000 $71,930 - $1,056,930 0.41% $143,860
2025 28
Voided
$1,100,000 $71,930 $8,820 $1,180,750 0.42% $80,750
2026 29
UFA
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Workout Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2022 25 $705,000 $287,720 - $992,720 $992,720 $2,847,720
2023 26 $870,000 - - $870,000 $1,862,720 $1,855,000
2024 27 $985,000 - - $985,000 $2,847,720 $985,000
2025 28
Voided
$1,100,000 - $8,820 $1,108,820 $3,956,540 -
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.
Seasons

4 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$5,956,540

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2022 25
Active
$992,720
$992,720
2023 26
Active
$870,000
$1,862,720
2024 27
Active
$985,000
$2,847,720
2025 28
Injured
$3,108,820
$5,956,540
Total      
$5,956,540
$5,956,540
2026 29
Active
$11,000,000
2027 30
Active
$12,000,000
2028 31
Active
$11,000,000
2029 32
Active
$12,000,000
Total
$51,956,540

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $3,660,000 $2,287,720 - - $8,820 - $5,956,540
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2022
25
$705,000
$287,720
$992,720
$992,720
2023
26
$870,000
$870,000
$1,862,720
2024
27
$985,000
$985,000
$2,847,720
2025
28
$1,100,000
$2,000,000
$8,820
$3,108,820
$5,956,540
Total
$3,660,000
$2,287,720
$8,820
$5,956,540
$5,956,540
2026
29
$1,215,000
$9,785,000
$11,000,000
2027
30
$1,260,000
$10,740,000
$12,000,000
2028
31
$1,305,000
$9,185,000
$11,000,000
2029
32
$1,435,000
$10,055,000
$12,000,000
Total
$8,875,000
$2,287,720
$39,765,000
$8,820
$51,956,540

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $3,660,000 $2,287,720 - - $8,820 - $5,956,540

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2025 DEN 17 - 18 Shoulder
2024 DEN 6 - 9 Ankle
  • Nov 25, 2025 Signed a 4 year $48 million contract extension with Denver (DEN)
  • Sep 20, 2024 Fined $5,872 Blindside Block against Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • May 11, 2022 Signed a 4 year $3.94 million contract with Denver (DEN)
  • Apr 30, 2022 Drafted by Denver (DEN): Round 5 (#171 overall)

Fines

Date Reason Fine Amount
Sep 20, 2024 Blindside Block against Pittsburgh (PIT) $5,872
Fines: 1 $5,872
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps%
2025 DEN 15 15 1,005 88.08
2024 DEN 12 12 750 68.12
2023 DEN 16 0 38 3.54
2022 DEN 7 1 90 7.92
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