The Broncos made Ben Powers one of their signature free-agent pickups three years ago, one-third of their cannonball splash in the market to rebuild their trenches on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
All three of the signees — Powers, right tackle Mike McGlinchey and defensive end Zach Allen — delivered. McGlinchey stabilized the right-tackle position that had become a revolving door for the nine previous seasons. Allen has more quarterback hits the last three seasons than anyone else in the NFL. And Powers has been a steadying influence on the interior, aiding the development of center Luke Wattenberg and the renaissance of All-Pro left tackle Garett Bolles.
But Powers has reached the point in his contract where the Broncos could extract some significant cap savings by cutting or trading him — particularly with a post-June 1 designation. The Broncos also experienced life without him for nine games after he suffered a biceps injury against the Philadelphia Eagles.
And that glimpse could make Powers expendable.
POWERS’ CONTRACTUAL DATA (PER OVER THE CAP):
Cut or trade (before June 1):
Cap savings: $8.38 million
Dead money: $9.775 million
Cut or trade with a post-June 1 designation:
Cap savings: $12.73 million
Dead money: $5.425 million
Restructure:
Can save up to $7.46 million
WHY THE BRONCOS WOULD KEEP POWERS
Continuity. The Broncos have had the same primary first-team offensive line for the last two seasons and the cohesion developed among the primary quintet is difficult to replicate.
Further, Powers ranked 19th in pressure rate and fourth in QB-hit rate among 78 guards with at least 200 pass-protection snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus); just one hit was attributed to him. Alex Palczewski ranked 45th and 29th in those metrics filling in for Powers last year — not bad considering he was thrust into duty after being the right-side backup following injuries to Powers and Matt Peart, but still a downgrade nonetheless.
WHY THE BRONCOS WOULD LET POWERS GO
Palczewski.
In his third season with the team, “Palcho” replaced Powers beginning with the Week 6 game in London and made a solid acquittal of himself over the course of 10 starts — a feat that was all the more notable since he hadn’t played on the left side of the line in several years. Yes, there was a downgrade in pass-protection metrics, but the Broncos would be gambling that with a full offseason of work and more time, that would improve.
Palczewski is a restricted free agent, and if the Broncos tender him at his original value — that of an undrafted free agent — he would surely draw quick interest on the market. Denver would have a right of first refusal. That is projected to be at $3,547,000, per Over the Cap. Should the Broncos tender Palczewski at a second-round level, he would count for a projected $5.811 million.
The Broncos could elect to work out a long-term deal with Palczewski, having developed him over the last three years, and make him their putative left guard for 2026 and beyond. They could do this at some savings compared with a potential extension for Powers beyond this year.
Given the Broncos’ tendency to get out ahead of matters on contracts, this wouldn’t come as a surprise. Thus, moving on from Powers would have less to do with his own play, and more with the development of a young player waiting in the wings.