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Report: Denver Broncos meet with Rob Walton, selling price expected to be over $5 billion

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels05/10/22ChandlerVessels
Denver Broncos request to interview Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn
Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Denver Broncos met with billionaire Rob Walton on Monday to discuss ownership of the franchise, according to NBC’s Pro Football Talk. The reported selling price from the Broncos is $5 billion, but could ultimately be even higher.

With a net worth of $69.5 billion, Walton is more than capable of meeting that demand. The heir and former company chairman of the WalMart franchise is the second potential buyer to meet with the team thus far. If he ultimately wins the bidding war, he would surpass Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper ($50 million net worth) to become the richest NFL owner.

According to PFT, there are currently five groups who are bidding for the team, though there could potentially be more. Aside from Walton, other known bidders are Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Josh Harris and Todd Boehly, who is in the process of buying Chelsea of the Premier League. The other two groups are choosing to remain anonymous for the time being.

The Broncos hope to have the sale finalized by the beginning of next season, but there is no telling how long it could take. If two sides get into a bidding war, it could delay the process. All of the money from the sale will be divided amongst the family of Pat Bowlen, who was the majority owner of the franchise prior to his passing in June 2019. He took over the team in 1984, and led them to three Super Bowls during his time in charge.

Although whomever takes over ownership of the Broncos will have to pay a hefty selling price, they will be getting a team that is ready to compete now. The Broncos finished this past season with a 7-10 record, and haven’t been to the playoffs since 2015, the last year they won a Super Bowl. However, they made a major offseason acquisition, adding quarterback Russell Wilson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.

Wilson joins a free agent class that also includes defensive tackle DJ Jones and edge defender Randy Gregory. Add them to a roster that already included safety Justin Simmons and a host of young offensive playmakers, and the future certainly appears bright.