Denver Broncos left guard Ben Powers accepted a restructured contract that lowers his overall pay but increases his guaranteed money. It ends months of negotiations that began at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. 9News reporter Mike Klis was first to report on the pay cut.

The Broncos’ starting left guard played the final five games of the 2025 NFL season with a Lisfranc injury; the severity had not been publicly disclosed until now. Powers also overcame a torn biceps suffered in Game 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles, returning to action that same season.

The 29-year-old’s willingness to take a significant pay cut after battling through those injuries tells you everything about the kind of player Denver has in its locker room.

Powers takes starter money but far less than his original deal

Powers had been scheduled to earn roughly $13 million in 2026, but none of that money was guaranteed until he made the 53-man roster. That lack of guaranteed dollars led some to believe he was a cut candidate heading into training camp. The restructured one-year deal still pays him like a starter, but the total figure represents a significant reduction from the $13 million he was originally owed. He’ll make less in terms of base salary and slightly more in terms of signing bonus.

Powers originally signed a four-year, $52 million contract as a free agent with the Broncos in 2023, averaging $13 million per year. He is now entering his fourth season in Denver and his eighth NFL season overall after beginning his career with the Baltimore Ravens. He has been a starter in the NFL for the last six seasons.

Why it took so long to get a deal done

Several reports indicate that the Broncos first approached Powers’ agent about a restructure at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in February. However, Powers had just completed surgery to repair his injured foot. He would not have been able to pass a physical at that point, which is why he and his agent decided to hold off on finalizing a new deal until now.

Part of the reason Denver pushed for the pay cut comes down to availability. The injuries and time missed during the 2025 season meant the Broncos could not rely on Powers to stay healthy. Locking up that many guaranteed dollars on a player who spent significant time either off the field or playing through serious injuries did not make financial sense for the organization.

Powers did not know he had a broken foot until after the loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, according to 9News reporter Mike Klis. Powers has missed the team’s entire offseason program to date, but he is not on the PUP list and is expected to participate in training camp.

A training camp battle awaits

Powers will not simply walk back into his starting role unchallenged. The Broncos have a training camp competition brewing at left guard between Powers and Alex Palczewski, who filled in for Powers last season while he dealt with injuries. Palczewski started Week 7 through Week 17 last season.

The 26-year-old Palczewski is more of an offensive tackle type, but he proved capable of handling the interior role during Powers’ absence. Denver also has some interior offensive line injuries it is dealing with right now, with Nick Gargiulo starting on the PUP list, which could factor into how the competition plays out.

The real takeaway here is Powers’ dedication to the Broncos

The toughness Powers displayed by playing through a broken foot and a torn biceps is one thing. The real story fans should pay attention to is the team-first mentality he showed by accepting the pay cut. Powers did not have to agree to a restructured deal. He could have taken his chances on the free agent market after a potential release and tried to earn a bigger contract elsewhere.

Instead, it’s clear that Powers believes his best shot at winning and continued success lies in Denver. He will compete to earn the starting left guard job during training camp, and the Broncos are better off for having a player with that kind of commitment in their building.