The Denver Broncos just made it loud and clear who they trust in the middle of their offensive line. Center Luke Wattenberg is signing a four-year, $48 million extension with $27 million guaranteed, a deal that puts him among the NFL’s highest-paid centers, according to Tom Pelissero and multiple reports .

For a former fifth-round pick out of Washington who once signed a modest $3.95 million rookie deal, that’s a massive glow-up. Wattenberg, 28, was set to hit free agency after this season, but Denver moved quickly after weeks of “preliminary talks” to lock up another pillar of its core.

This isn’t just about one lineman getting paid. It fits a bigger theme in Denver. The Broncos are 9-2, leading the AFC West behind Bo Nix and a physical identity built up front. The offensive line “

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