Broncos Making the Right Move Bringing Back BOTH Alex Palczewski, Ben Powers

0:00Alex 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

1:01We 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

2:05Started 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

3:11Who 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

4:14There 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

5:15He'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

6:21Saga 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

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8:28Get 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

9:29And 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

10:35Haven'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

11:36But 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

12:39I 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

13:46But 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