Locked On Broncos - Daily Podcast On The Denver Broncos · Locked On Podcast Network, Cody Roark, Sayre Bedinger

Denver Broncos MUST DECIDE Ben Powers' Future Or Pursue Cost Effective Options

·16 min·1 clip

Ben Powers' $18.1 million cap hit forces the Broncos into a tough free agency choice: extend or cut him.

This episode of Locked On Broncos, hosted by Cody Rourke, analyzes the Denver Broncos' impending contract decision on starting left guard Ben Powers as NFL free agency approaches. Rourke examines whether the team should extend Powers, release him, or pursue a cheaper alternative. The central dilemma involves balancing on-field performance with salary cap management. Ben Powers is entering the final year of his contract with an $18.1 million cap hit for the upcoming season, the third-highest on the team. Before a bicep injury in Week Five, Powers was a valuable asset, particularly in the run game with effective pull-blocking schemes. His injury required surgery and caused him to miss a significant portion of the season, returning only in mid-December. If released with a standard designation, the move would free up roughly $7-8 million in cap space but incur $9.7 million in dead money. An extension could lower his immediate cap number and maintain continuity on an offensive line that also includes Garrett Bolles, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, and the recently extended Luke Wattenberg. A primary cost-effective alternative discussed is Alex Parchment, a restricted free agent who filled in at left guard after Powers' and backup Matt Peart's injuries. Parchment, originally a right-side player, impressed the coaching staff with his transition and performance, including a key block on an R.J. Harvey touchdown run against Dallas. The host suggests tendering Parchment and letting him compete for the starting job would allow the Broncos to allocate funds to other needs like running back, linebacker, or tight end. This approach is framed as a calculated gamble, especially with quarterback Bo Nix on a rookie contract, but does not preclude the team from also drafting an interior lineman or signing a veteran later in free agency. One insight is that the Broncos' early-season run game struggles were attributed more to play-calling and game flow than to offensive line performance, with Powers being a bright spot. The analysis notes that simply going younger on the line does not guarantee improved run game success. The host's personal preference is to extend Powers on a two-to-three year deal to preserve continuity, acknowledging the risk of adding more dead cap after the Russell Wilson situation. The episode also speculates that Parchment could be part of a long-term "transition plan" for an aging offensive line, with starters like Bolles and McGlinchey nearing the ends of their contracts. The tone is analytical and conversational, focused on roster construction and salary cap mechanics from a dedicated team perspective. It is educational for listeners wanting to understand the financial and strategic considerations of an NFL front office. This episode is ideal for Denver Broncos fans who closely follow team roster moves, salary cap management, and offensive line play. Listeners seeking broad NFL news or entertainment-focused content might find it too niche.

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A Ben Powers choice that opens into a bigger Broncos roster question.

Locked On Broncos keeps Ben Powers at the center of a real offseason decision: hold the line up front, or start looking for a younger answer before free agency opens. The strongest part is the way it treats that choice as practical, not dramatic.

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Before NFL free agency forces the Broncos to decide on Ben Powers.

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