Broncos may be one step closer to moving on from starter following Alex Palczewski deal
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Broncos may be one step closer to moving on from starter following Alex Palczewski deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Denver Broncoscame to terms on a two-year contract extension with reserve offensive lineman Alex Palczewski on Thursday and that move could set plans in motion for another one.
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Affectionately nicknamed "Palcho", Palczewski has been a terrific option off the bench for the Broncos and after starting a good chunk of the season in 2025, the team could see him as a bigger part of the offense going forward. That would mean that Ben Powers' time with the team could be in question.
Powers' name was tossed out as a potential trade target and the Broncos could be looking to deal him. But cutting him is an option as well. The Broncos could save $12.7 million against the salary cap by designating Powers as a post-June 1st cut. Even with the $5.4 million hit in dead money, that is still a net savings of about $7.3 million.
Broncos could move on from Ben Powers ahead of 2026 season
After tearing his biceps in Week 5 last year, Powers missed a huge chunk of the season and managed to start in just six regular season games. Though the Broncos first turned to Matt Peart to replace him in the lineup, they went to Palczewski after Peart went down with a knee injury in Week 6.
Palczewski held his own in the starting lineup and showed the team that he can be relied on in that role going forward. Palczewski is three years younger than Powers and a much cheaper option as well.
This doesn't guarantee that the Broncos will cut ties with Powers either through a trade or by cutting him, but it certainly makes it a bigger possibility.
Palzcewski was a restricted free agent, but the Broncos decided that re-signing him, rather than using a tender on him was the right path to take. Tendering him a deal would have allowed other teams to negotiate with him and offer him a deal, which the Broncos would have had the right to match.
This way, he's locked in through the 2027 season. According to Broncos 9News insider Mike Klis, the deal could be worth up to $11 million with incentives and that's not really money that teams are going to give to backup offensive linemen. Clearly, the Broncos are happy with his progression.
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Undrafted out of Illinois in 2023, Palczewski has appeared in 31 games for the Broncos while making 13 starts in three seasons. It will be interesting to see what the team does with Powers with free agency less than a week away.
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