Updated March 5, 2026, 8:12 p.m. MT
Ben Powers is safe.
The Denver Broncos‘ left guard is entering the final year of his contract, and there had been speculation that he could be asked to restructure his contract or risk getting traded or cut.
Instead, the Broncos have informed Powers that they are not going to trade or release him, and they won’t ask him to take a pay cut, according to a report from KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. So he is poised to remain in Denver as the team’s starting left guard this season.
Powers is set to have a base salary of $11.99 million this fall, and he can earn an additional $1.1 million through roster and game bonuses this season. He’ll have a salary cap hit of $18.155 million this year before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
Powers signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the Broncos in 2023. He started all 17 games in 2023 and 2024 before missing nine games due to injury in 2025. Alex Palczewski filled in for Powers last year, and he performed well enough to receive a two-year, $9.5 million extension this offseason. With Powers returning, Palczewski now appears poised to serve as Denver’s top backup swing tackle/guard in 2026.
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The Broncos are now expected to have the same starting five offensive linemen for the third consecutive season: Garett Bolles, Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meiner and Mike McGlinchey. That continuity should serve quarterback Bo Nix well after he took the fewest sacks (22) among 17-game starters last season.
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