Today’s Broncos agreement to increase Alex Palczewski is not going to put him on a path to becoming the team’s recent left guard starter, in spite of everything. Ben Powers, mentioned as a trade candidate for weeks, is now expected to remain in Denver.
The Broncos are usually not planning to trade or release Powers, per 9News’ Mike Klis; the team may also not ask the eighth-year guard for a pay cut. This places Powers heading in the right direction to earn $11.99MM in base salary this season — the ultimate 12 months of his contract. More notably, this may give the Broncos an offensive line featuring five players earning not less than $12MM per 12 months.
Denver prolonged left tackle Garett Bolles (4 years, $80MM) and right guard Quinn Meinerz (4 years, $72MM) in 2024, doing so before re-upping center Luke Wattenberg (4/48) in November 2025. Powers, nonetheless, began Sean Payton‘s O-line overhaul, signing a four-year deal value $52MM early throughout the 2023 legal tampering period. RT Mike McGlinchey soon signed a five-year, $87.5MM pact. Powers, who’s tied to a $18.16MM 2026 cap number, is the one player Denver starting blocker unsigned for 2027. McGlinchey, Meinerz and Powers sit because the Broncos’ top three cap hits.
Palczewski is now locked in through the ’27 season, perhaps giving the Broncos an heir apparent at LG. The previous UDFA looks to reprise his role because the Broncos’ swingman/sixth O-lineman in 2026. Powers, 29, has operated as Denver’s left guard starter throughout his tenure. A biceps injury, nonetheless, sidelined the ex-Raven for nine games last season. In 2024, nonetheless, Powers led all interior O-lineman in run block win rate.
The 2026 season also represents a brand new chapter for the Broncos, because it is a spot 12 months of sorts between the Russell Wilson dead money period and Bo Nix‘s extension eligibility. Nix cannot sign an extension until 2027, giving the Broncos a likelihood to bolster their team around a rookie deal this 12 months. It looks like a part of that effort might be retaining all five pricey O-line starters; Pro Football Focus ranked Denver’s front first overall last season.
While Powers is due back, the Broncos are expected to lose John Franklin-Myers. Set to check free agency Monday, Franklin-Myers has not engaged in offseason talks with the Broncos, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. This case has been headed this fashion for some time, as Franklin-Myers — despite expressing interest in staying — has long been expected to depart. This 12 months’s market places the veteran D-lineman in commanding position to attain a monster raise.
Placed sixth on PFR’s top 50 free agents list, Franklin-Myers is viewed as by far the most effective interior D-lineman set to be available Monday. Sent to Denver in a Jets salary dump throughout the 2024 draft, Franklin-Myers (29) combined for 14.5 sacks as a full-time starter as a 3-4 D-end for the Broncos — who formed two top-three defenses throughout the supporting-caster’s two seasons. Franklin-Myers, who had been tied to a four-year Jets deal value $55MM prior to the April 2024 trade, is looking for a three- or four-year contract, per Tomasson.