As a rookie in 2021, right guard Quinn Meinerz couldn’t contain his nerves when he gazed upon the hill at Broncos Park the first day of training camp. Scattered across the grass berm were hundreds of fans — a far cry from his college days playing in relative anonymity at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“That’s like a home game at Whitewater,” Meinerz told The Denver Post.

Over the years, Meinerz has grown accustomed to the noise, the crowd and the magnitude of playing in the NFL. In doing so, he’s developed into one of the league’s top guards, with a new $80 million contract to prove it.

But Meinerz’s four-year extension, signed in late July, signifies more than just a big payday. It’s further proof that he and cornerback Pat Surtain II, members of the Broncos’ 2021 draft class, are two critical building blocks in a franchise rebuild that began in earnest this offseason.

“It means a lot to be one of the founding people in this next journey for Broncos Country,” Meinerz said. “I’m excited for the potential. I think with a veteran staff and a young football team, there’s a lot of special things we can do.”

Broncos head coach Sean Payton has repeatedly stressed the importance of the offensive line to an NFL roster. And general manager George Paton has called cornerback a premium position in the league.

So it’s no surprise that Denver views Meinerz and Surtain as critical to the franchise’s future.

In the days after Meinerz — a third-round pick (98th overall) — signed on the dotted line, he admitted to feeling the pressure of increased expectations.

In addition to seeking advice from teammates and coaches, Meinerz sees a mental performance coach once a week. It’s been a part of his routine since before he signed his new deal. Each visit, he talks through the good and bad from the week before and goes through breathing techniques he can use during practice and in games.

“I keep the main thing, the main thing,” Meinerz said.

Surtain carries the same weight on his shoulders. Following the departure of safety Justin Simmons, the 24-year-old is now a leader in the Denver secondary. Surtain is arguably the best player on Denver’s roster. ESPN rated him the best cornerback in the league and No. 52 overall in the annual NFL Top 100 list after earning his second Pro Bowl appearance in 2023.

Unlike Meinerz, Surtain is used to the scrutiny that comes with high expectations. He was a five-star recruit in high school, an All-American at Alabama and the ninth overall pick in 2021.

“I take very much pride in it because that’s how the team views me,” said Surtain. “I’m blessed to be in the role that I’m in now, so I’ve just got to set an example.”

Sooner or later, the Broncos will have to open up their checkbook to solidify their commitment to Surtain for the long term. Denver picked up Surtain’s fifth-year option of $19.8 million, but he is also eligible for a contract extension. Given his success before turning 25, the price tag will be hefty.

He has a cap hit of $6.6 million in 2024, according to Spotrac, but an extension could put the two-time Pro Bowl selection’s average annual salary north of the $21.0 million figure earned by the highest-paid cornerback in the league, Green Bay’s Jaire Alexander.

Surtain has faith that everything will work itself out. He wants to be in Denver long-term, and the organization has made it known that it wants the same.

“I think they’ve made it pretty clear that they want me to be a part of the team,” Surtain said. “That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Meinerz and Surtain have established themselves as franchise cornerstones. The rest of the 2021 class could prove just as crucial in setting a sturdy foundation.

This fall will be important for players like running back Javonte Williams and outside linebackers Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper to solidify their position in Denver’s future. All will be free agents in 2025.

Williams displayed signs of being a long-term answer at running back as a rookie, rushing for 903 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. However, a torn ACL ended his sophomore campaign, and his return from injury in 2023 was met with underwhelming numbers (774 yards, 3.6 yards per carry).

Williams listened to Payton’s advice last winter and dropped weight in the offseason. The hope is he can revert to his pre-injury self, when “Javonte’d” became a verb and would-be tacklers were left in his wake.

“(Payton has) seen a lot of great running backs come through (the league). Anything that he says, I’m going to listen to it,” Williams said. “That by itself just showed me that he cared, and if he put that much effort into it, I will too.”

Edge rusher is viewed as another important position on Denver’s defense. Despite inconsistent pass rush numbers, the Broncos declined to use their first-round pick on top edge rushers like Dallas Turner and Laiatu Latu, putting their trust in Browning and Cooper.

Browning hopes to stay healthy this season after missing the first six games of 2023 due to offseason surgery to repair a torn meniscus. In the 10 games he played, Browning totaled 4.5 sacks and 10 pressures, according to Pro Football Reference.

Cooper, on the other hand, was Denver’s best edge rusher, leading the team with 8.5 sacks after totaling 4.5 in his first two seasons. If he builds on last year and Browning’s training camp performance carries over to the regular season, Denver’s 2021 class could prove to be the foundation of franchise success for years to come.

“We’re looking at each other like ‘Man, this is crazy going into Year 4 already,’” Meinerz said. “We’re growing (and) starting to be leaders in our rooms in different ways.”

Denver’s 2021 draft class

The Broncos got 10 rolls of the dice with the 2021 draft class, and there’s a chance it could produce as many as five long-term starters. Here’s a look back at the class and where each player stood midway through training camp. Mobile users, tap here to see the chart.

Originally Published: August 31, 2024 at 5:45 a.m.