Broncos' Cooper, Meinerz Set to Earn Big Performance-Based Bonuses

Some Denver Broncos are set to earn a nice pay raise this offseason.

Nov 26, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos running back Samaje Perine (25) scores a / Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL announced the top 25 performance-based pay distributions for 2023. In total, these top 25 players will receive a payout of approximately $394 million dollars. 

According to 9NEWS' Mike Klis, rush linebacker Jonathon Cooper and right guard Quinn Meinerz are the two Denver Broncos players who earned the biggest performance-based bonuses. Cooper, the 2021 seventh-round draft pick, led the Broncos with 8.5 sacks during the 2023 season. His bonus was $738,916.

Meinerz, a 2021 third-round pick, is becoming one of the best guards in the NFL and was voted a 2023 Pro Bowl alternate. His bonus came in at $747,505. Although Cooper and Meinerz received the highest performance bonuses, they were not the only Broncos players who received performance-based pay.

Here are the Broncos' top-10 bonus earners, via Klis. Hit the 9NEWS link for the complete list of Broncos who qualified.

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

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Implemented during the 2002 season as a part of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFLPA, this program provides a benefit that rewards all players based on their playing time and salary levels. In addition, the program caters to middle and later round draft picks who played far above their draft status.

The Performance-Based Pay is determined using a player index from 2 variables: PBP Playtime and PBP Compensation. Here is how each of the variables are derived: 

PBP Playtime = a player’s regular season total plays on all units divided by the number of plays in which the player with the most total combined players participated in on the team)

PBP Compensation = a player’s regular season salary, bonuses, and any incentives

The calculation of the player index consists of a player’s PBP Playtime divided by the PBP Compensation.

The index value is then compared to the other players on the team to determine the performance-based payout. 

If the player salary is less than the CBA minimum, then the payout will be enough to supplement the player’s current salary and have it equal the league minimum. 

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