Mile High Report
Lutz, Wattenberg, and now Roach!
According to multiple reports, including NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Denver Broncos have signed defensive tackle Malcolm Roach to a three-year contract extension worth up to $29.25 million dollars and includes $14 million in guaranteed money.
After signing kicker Wil Lutz to a contract extension, Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton told reporters they spoke to a couple of other players/reps about contract extensions. Not even a week later, we have deals for starting center Luke Wattenberg and now run-stuffing defensive lineman Malcolm Roach.
I said yesterday that re-signing or extending Roach needed to be a priority after getting Wattenberg done, and not even 24 hours later, we have a deal. The Broncos’ defensive line is their strength and identity, and keeping a player like Roach around will help the team keep that identity moving forward.
Roach signed with the Broncos two offseasons ago and was a bit of an afterthought at that time. He was another former Saints player and someone many fans did not know. However, we quickly learned that Roach is an elite run defender and was a big reason for the Broncos’ run defense going from a weakness to a strength last season. Now, he’s a key rotational player for this elite defense that is looking to carry this team to a deep postseason run.
When Sean Payton was hired by the Broncos, he put an emphasis on improving the offensive and defensive lines. Three years later, we have heavy investments along both lines, and both units are among the best in the NFL and are the identity of this team. Keeping the trenches strong will help prolong the Broncos’ success moving forward.
