GREAT NEWS: First-Round Pick Jahdae, Denver Broncos, Agree to Surprisingly Low Contract
The Denver Broncos’ front office scored an unexpected victory this week, finalizing a rookie contract with No. 14 overall pick Jahdae Whitlock—an explosive cornerback out of the University of Oregon—at a figure that leaves analysts blinking in disbelief. While first-round selections almost always receive deals slotting close to the maximum allowed under the NFL’s rookie wage scale, Whitlock accepted terms that come in nearly $2.8 million below the projected four-year total for the 14th slot. The agreement provides the Broncos badly needed cap flexibility heading into training camp and underscores Whitlock’s eagerness to get on the field rather than haggle at the negotiating table.
The particulars: a four-year, $12.4 million pact with a $6 million signing bonus and a fully guaranteed first two seasons. Had Whitlock insisted on the slotted figure, he could have commanded roughly $15.2 million with a signing bonus approaching $8 million. Instead, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound playmaker reportedly instructed his agent to prioritize “fit and football” over wringing out every last dollar. The deal also contains a fifth-year option governed by league rules and modest workout bonuses that could add another $500,000 if Whitlock participates in 90 percent of the team’s offseason program.
For general manager George Paton, the signing represents a rare win-win scenario. The Broncos entered the summer with just under $7 million in cap space after absorbing Russell Wilson’s dead-money hit and extending left tackle Garrett Bolles. Whitlock’s below-slot figure effectively doubles that room, allowing Denver to pursue a veteran interior lineman or shore up depth at running back. “We’re thrilled Jahdae is in the building, contract in hand, ready to compete,” Paton said at Thursday’s press conference. “His decision shows a team-first mindset that matches the culture Coach Payton is instilling.”
What prompted the rookie to leave almost three million dollars on the table? According to sources close to negotiations, Whitlock’s camp iced possibilities of a prolonged holdout in early May, mindful of how missed reps can stunt development—especially in the challenging transition from collegiate zone concepts to NFL-level press and pattern match schemes. Whitlock’s idol, former Broncos great Champ Bailey, advised the youngster to “bet on yourself, then let the endorsements follow.” Bailey’s point: lockdown corners who flash early often make their real money on the second deal, where bidding is unrestricted by the rookie scale.
Whitlock echoed that philosophy while addressing the media. “I’ve dreamed of wearing this orange and blue since I started playing,” he said, flashing a smile that will no doubt feature in local commercials by August. “I told my agent I didn’t want to miss a single practice arguing over numbers. I’m confident that if I do my job, the Broncos and I will have many more conversations down the road.”
Inside the locker room, veterans applauded the move, interpreting it as a signal that the rookie is here to work. All-Pro safety Justin Simmons praised Whitlock’s humility: “He’s already asked me for film cut-ups from last year. You love to see that hunger.” Meanwhile, head coach Sean Payton lauded Whitlock’s versatility, hinting he might see nickel snaps as early as preseason Week 1. “He’s a tone-setter,” Payton said. “Smart, physical, and he can play inside or outside. Getting him here for the full install is huge.”
Of course, lower upfront dollars do carry risk. Should Whitlock suffer a significant injury before negotiating his second contract, the financial sacrifice could loom large. To mitigate that, his representatives negotiated an unusually robust insurance policy, covering loss of value up to $10 million and funded partly by the savings the team realized. Both sides frame the clause as further proof of creative collaboration.
Fan reaction has bordered on euphoric, especially on salary-cap-savvy corners of Broncos Twitter where memes comparing Whitlock to “coupon-clipping” general manager wizardry spread rapidly. More importantly, the move signals Denver’s intent to maximize every penny while it rebuilds around a young core. If Whitlock blossoms into the shutdown corner scouts believe he can be, his bargain-priced rookie years will stand as one of the shrewdest deals of the 2024 draft class.
For now, the Broncos have a potential star locked in, a few extra million to patch holes elsewhere, and a rookie already proving he’s as team-oriented off the field as he is competitive on it. In a league where contract drama often overshadows summer practices, Jahdae Whitlock just delivered a refreshing reminder that sometimes football still comes first.
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