The Denver Broncos are making the right call by keeping their offensive line fully intact and deep with the decision to retain Ben Powers as well as re-signing Alex Palczewski.
Sayre Bedinger breaks down Palczewski's raise, Powers being entrenched as the starting left guard, and the implications on the 2026 NFL Draft.
Cody Roark is a credentialed beat reporter for Mile High Sports and covers the Broncos daily in person. Sayre Bedinger is the site expert for Predominantly Orange. Both bring Broncos Country the most in-depth and objective coverage of the Denver Broncos.
WANT MORE DAILY DENVER BRONCOS CONTENT?
For all of the latest Denver Broncos news today --
Locked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, & More
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/nfl/
Follow on Twitter: @CodyRoarkNFL and @SayreBedinger
Follow the show on Twitter: @LockedOnBroncos
Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.
Click here to join -- https://lockedonbroncos.supercast.com/
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
TurboTax
This year you’re getting a major upgrade — Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.
Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.
Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
FanDuel is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a College Basketball Parlay Profit Boost. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started — Play Your Game.
Betterhelp
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Alex Powell Chesky is officially coming back and so has been powers the Broncos are keeping the offensive line together
You are locked on Broncos your daily Denver Broncos podcast part of the Locked on podcast network your team every day
Alex Powell Chesky is not just reporting as eligible
But he's reporting as 9.5 million dollars richer as of the Broncos giving him a two-year contract extension
We're going to break down that contract as well as Ben powers coming back a little bit of a surprising move to a lot of the fan base
But we talked about it on this show and we're going to break down why it's the smart move for the Denver Broncos here on today's
Bonus episode of the show my name is Sarah Beninger
co-host here of Locked on Broncos as well as the site expert at predominantly orange
Dot com and Locked on Broncos is here for you every single day throughout the course of the offseason in fact twice a day
We have our regular episodes bonus episodes and we want to say thank you to all of you every day
There's out there that make this show what it is and we appreciate you tuning in right here on the Locked on podcast network
The number one sports podcast network and we appreciate all of you who support the show by subscribing and listening every single day
Much love from Cody and I to every single one of you and we've got a lot to break down with the offensive line remaining intact for the Denver Broncos
Not many teams get to go into free agency
Knowing that not only are there starting five offensive lineman set, but your top six guys in fact
I would say for the Broncos your top seven top eight guys on the offensive line
Already pretty well solidified. It sets the Broncos up for an obvious future investment at the position
We'll talk about that a little bit later in today's show
But let's first talk about the big breaking news, which is that Alex Palscheski signed a two-year deal the restricted free agent for the Denver Broncos
Former undrafted free agent has developed so so well for the Broncos
Started a couple of games at right tackle when Mike McGlinch
You went down back in 2024 and then started a long period last year when the Broncos desperately needed him after the Ben powers injury
He gets a two-year deal worth 9.5 million with some incentives
That can bring that up to
11-ish million and those incentives are based obviously on playing time
So the Broncos believe in Alex Palscheski this contract will essentially take the place of the deal that Matt Pert signed last offseason
Pert got a two-year contract believe it or not last offseason before ultimately going down with a season ending injury
This year for the Broncos and remember like I said Palscheski was an emergency option for the Broncos at the left guard position
When Ben powers went down it was supposed to be Nick Garzulo who got hurt in the preseason
But after Garzulo went down Matt Pert became sort of the swing option there at both tackle and guard and Pert started that game
The first game after Ben powers went down with injury and then the Broncos obviously replaced him when he got hurt with Alex Palscheski
Who did a really solid job?
But I don't think he was ever a legitimate option to be this team's starting left guard for the future
He did a solid job as the placeholder
But I thought he did a lot better of a job as the team starting right tackle when he was filling in from McGlinch
And then remember pal Cheski got hurt at that point in time
So the Broncos have had to do quite a bit of shuffling as much continuity as they've had on the offensive line
There's been plenty of shuffling done over the last couple of years and not only has somebody like Palscheski started for this team
But Alex Forsyth has started in place of the injured Luke Wattenberg at the center position
We've seen a number of guys rotating in Frank Krum got some action this past year
But when you look at the offensive line death chart man the Broncos are very deep on the offensive line
And they've got a lot of clarity there now they don't necessarily have a lot of clarity for the future
But we'll discuss that left tackle obviously going to be Garrett Bulls one of the best if not the best left tackle in the game today
Now Ben Powers will be returning as the starting left guard for the Broncos
There was some question about whether or not they will take the cap savings by trading or releasing him
Ultimately the team I think making the wise decision to let this final year of Ben Powers contract play out
They don't have to trade him. He's a really good player on the offensive line
And somebody who as we noted multiple times on the show last season
Really upgraded the running game when he was out there
So Ben Powers is somebody that I think you want on your team
Especially because he's already under contract and you would be taking on a pretty sizable
9 million dead cap hit to let him go
The Broncos can get cap savings other ways and we'll see if they end up doing that with free agency here
knocking at the door but Ben Powers coming back signifies what I kind of believed all along
Which is that Alex Palczewski is not necessarily a starting option for you at left guard in terms of team building when it comes to
Adjusting on the fly and when it comes to the more you can do the more valuable you are he can start at left guard for you
He's a valuable reserve option again
He was the reporting as eligible guy at one point for the Broncos last season before he had to step into that starting role
But certainly when it comes to team building and roster building you want to find somebody who's a better long-term positional fit there at left guard
Palczewski has always been viewed as a right tackle by the Broncos and George Peyton even admitted after the season
He said I don't even think he's ever been on the left side of the line much less playing left guard. So
Palczewski is a right tackle and not necessarily a right tackle only as we've seen
He's a bit of a Swiss army knife
He can play at left guard for you
But I love that the Broncos are bringing back Ben Powers. I think that's the wise decision
I think that's the right move for this team in a Super Bowl window
You don't want to be banking too much on a player like Palczewski who's still young still in the development stages
Even though he may be ready for a starting gig at some point down the road
I just think that if that happens or when that happens
It will be in place of Mike McGlinchee at right tackle in his contract situation going to be interesting
Saga to follow next off season but Broncos country
I think both of these decisions the decision to resign palczewski and bring him back as well as the decision to keep Ben Powers
He's not going anywhere. I think those two moves signify that the Broncos are absolutely ready for a long-term
Investment or two in this year's NFL draft on the offensive line
We're going to talk about that coming up next on today's episode Lockdown Broncos
Today's episode of Lockdown Broncos is brought to you by game time
We live in a world where we can stream anything we can order food in minutes and we carry super computers in our pockets
Right and somehow buying tickets to a live game still feels way too complicated hidden fees jumping prices endless steps
There's got to be a better way. That's why I use the game time app
It gives the fans the advantage and makes getting tickets very simple whether it's NFL games or concerts comedy
Whatever it is that you're into if you jump into the app you can even see panoramic views from every seat before you buy
That is my favorite feature of the game time app and the price that you see already includes all the fees
So you're not seeing one price while you're shopping for tickets
And then it just goes way up and skyrockets at check out the price that you see is the price that you're going to pay
Two taps you have great seats locked in. It's fast. It's easy. It's done
So go ahead take the guesswork out of buying tickets download the game time app
Create an account and use code locked on for $20 off your first purchase terms apply again
Create an account and redeem code L O C K E D O N for $20 off download game time today
Today's show is also brought to you by turbo tax. It's tax time
But for a lot of us the old way of doing taxes is a lot trying to book an appointment
That's not the most convenient sitting in a waiting room with a stack of papers
Emailing back and forth and wondering if they really get your situation
But this year you're getting a major upgrade into it
Turbo tax now has in-person locations nation wide you can meet face-to-face with a real tax expert and your documents
Get uploaded straight to your turbo tax app on the spot and just like that you're done your turbo tax
Expert works to get you every dollar you deserve while you get real-time notifications as you go about your day
It's the relief of walking in and meeting a real person and walking out knowing your taxes are being handled right head to turbo tax
dot com slash local to find a store near you and book your appointment
Obviously the Denver Broncos have solidified their offensive line for now with the return of Ben powers as well as the decision to
Resign Alex Palschewski, but in the future I think they're going to be looking for some young players to potentially take
Overstarting roles the 2026 draft may have one eye on
2027 when it comes to the offensive line in Broncos country
I think this move the to resign Palschewski and the decision to bring back Ben powers
Really is another way of strengthening the take of offensive line early for this Denver Broncos team
And I've mentioned it before I'll say it again
I think offensive line in the first round of this year's draft is very much a possibility
For the Denver Broncos Sean Peyton George Peyton they both talked about how important it is to build in the offensive line
And Sean Peyton even went so far as to talk about how in the past
He's used a lot of high draft capital on the offensive line
You want to identify the best possible prospects that you can at that position group because it's so crucial
Remember the reason why Mike McGlinchee and Ben powers were signed in the first place is because the Broncos didn't have first round picks
In 2022 or 2023 and they knew that probably in 2024
We're going to have to use a top pick on the quarterback position
So they already knew that three first round picks for sure we're not going to be able to be used on the offensive line
Because two years they didn't have them and then one year obviously the quarterback was the need
So Sean Peyton went out and he gets two guys high priced free agents
Very contended free agent signings at the time of Mike McGlinchee and Ben powers and hey those have worked out pretty nice
Haven't they but those guys essentially took the place in some ways
Of not having a first or even second round pick in 2022 or 2023
And I know Sean came to the Broncos in 23 so think about it this way when they signed Mike McGlinchee at the right tackle position
That kind of effectively was Sean saying if we had a first round pick
I'd be using it on the offensive tackle position
Mike was their priority in free agency
They got him and he's been an effective starter for the team
Now the clock is about to have to reset at right tackle and left guard I think are the first two positions
But you also have to consider that Garrett bowls he came into the league at the age of 25
So he's an older player based on his his time in the league
He's only been in the league since 2017 but you know he's 33 pushing 34 right
So Garrett bowls is not going to be able to play for an eternity
You're certainly not expecting him to retire anytime soon
But you do have to start planning for these eventualities on the offensive line the eventuality that Ben powers could be gone after this year
The eventuality that Mike McGlinchee could be gone after this year
The eventuality that Garrett bowls might not play for you know three four five more years
We'll see how long he ends up playing
But the Broncos have to be ready for any scenario
And that's why you have to invest the high draft capital
Now where you don't have necessarily those pressing needs heading into the draft
That's why free agencies going to be so crucial for the Denver Broncos to make sure that you get to the NFL draft without any pressing needs
Remember last year they had pressing needs still going into the draft they still needed a running back desperately
They still needed linebackers which they never ended up getting desperately
But the Broncos can't do that this year they have to get into the NFL draft without any major needs
So that they can free themselves up to take an offensive lineman in the first round if that is the best player that's on their board or in the second round
I think offensive and defensive line safety some positions that might surprise some folks could be very high on the Broncos priority list
Come time for the NFL draft and the decision to retain Ben Powers is proof of that I don't think they're going to want necessarily somebody to come in and say
Hey, we're going to plug us a rookie left guard into the offense when we're in the midst of a Super Bowl run
But I do think that they would draft somebody and have him ready for 2027 when they're ready to continue to go at Super Bowls
You know so hopefully the Broncos win it all this year hopefully they can win it all going forward
They have to set themselves up in the trenches now invest in that player now at left guard maybe left tackle or right tackle or swing tackle
Something like that to solidify the depth on your offensive line and to give yourself some future starters
I think that's where the Broncos really have to capitalize on this year's class of players offensive lineman, defensive lineman, linebackers, tight ends, running backs
We'll see what happens but early in the draft offensive line don't be surprised the Broncos use one of their top two picks on the offensive line this year
But Broncos country let me know your thoughts on the team's decision to resign Alex Palscheski are you surprised that they're simultaneously bringing back Ben Powers
Did you feel like Palscheski could be a future starter at left guard obviously the Broncos making their declarations to the contrary of that
So very interesting stuff but let me know your thoughts we appreciate you for tuning in today and every single day Broncos country free agency is right at the doorstep
And we will be certainly bringing you content all throughout the free agency frenzy we appreciate you for tuning in today and we'll catch you on the next one
More from Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos