Broncos To Re-Sign OL Alex Palczewski
7:04pm: Palczewski’s two-year deal is worth $9.5MM, according to 9News’ Mike Klis. Of that total, $5.6MM is guaranteed. The contract can max out at $11MM.
1:38pm: The Broncos are expected to re-sign offensive lineman Alex Palczewski, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The 26-year-old was set to be a restricted free agent but will instead stay in Denver on a two-year deal.
Palczewski signed with the Broncos as an undrafted rookie in 2023 but missed the entire season due to injury. He made the 53-man roster in 2024 and took over at right tackle after an early-season injury to starter Mike McGlinchey. A high ankle sprain put Palczewski on the shelf for three games, and he only played 16 snaps on offense for the rest of the year.
In 2025, he emerged as a key piece of Denver’s offensive line after starting left guard Ben Powers landed on injured reserve due to a biceps injury. Palczewski logged 10 starts (Weeks 7-17), though he only received a 53.8 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and Powers took back over at left guard after he came off IR at the end of the regular season.
Details of Palczewski’s deal are unknown, but it will likely land somewhere between the second-round and right-of-first-refusal RFA tags, valued at $6.26MM and $3.82MM, respectively (via OverTheCap). That could be a bargain if he takes over a starting job in 2026, a distinct possibility considering Powers’ contract situation.
Powers is owed $13MM in non-guaranteed compensation this year with Denver’s third-largest cap hit at $18.15MM. A pre-June 1 cut would yield $8.38MM in savings with $9.78MM in dead money, while a post-June 1 cut would change those numbers to $12.73MM and $5.43MM with the rest of the dead money pushed to 2027. Powers has been mentioned as a trade candidate on multiple occasions.
The Broncos currently have a little over $25MM in cap space, so they do not need to release Powers before the new league year. That would give them time to explore his trade value after starting 52 games in the last five seasons. They could also elect to designate him as a post-June 1 cut for maximum 2026 savings. It would not kick in until after June 1, and the Broncos would have to carry Powers’ cap hit in the meantime, but they can afford to do so. They can then use the extra money to sign their rookie class and fill any remaining roster needs with summer signings.
However, re-signing Palczewski does not necessarily mean that the Broncos are looking to move on from Powers. Depth at offensive line is key, especially players who are able to back up multiple spots.
AFC West Notes: Broncos, Powers, Raiders, Staff, Tart, Chargers, Chiefs
As it stands, the Broncos are the rare team with five offensive linemen signed to eight-figure-per-year contracts. They ensured this status by extending center Luke Wattenberg (four years, $48MM) during their November bye week. Three-year left guard starter Ben Powers was injured when that deal went down, and PFR’s Broncos Offseason Outlook mentioned the veteran as a cut candidate following Wattenberg’s payday. We may be moving closer to that reality.
In predicting how the Broncos will proceed with Powers, the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel pegs a release as the most likely outcome. Denver would save $8.4MM by releasing Powers, who signed a four-year deal worth $52MM in 2023. The Broncos signed Powers and right tackle Mike McGlinchey on Day 1 of the ’23 legal tampering period, and both have helped the team’s O-line complete a turnaround. But the Broncos have since paid Wattenberg and All-Pros Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz. With former UDFA Alex Palczewski replacing Powers for 10 starts last season, he is a candidate to take over at LG.
The Broncos will only make this Powers move if they view Palczewski — a 2023 UDFA who can be kept for one more season via RFA tender — ready to move into the lineup, The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider adds. Powers, 29, has played well when healthy. Run block win rate tabbed him first among all interior O-linemen in 2024, while Pro Football Focus ranked Powers 35th among guards (with Palczewski 62nd) last season. Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- Klint Kubiak is still assembling his Raiders staff, and another familiar name is on his radar. The Raiders requested permission to interview Vikings assistant Jordan Traylor for their quarterbacks coach position, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Traylor worked with Kubiak with the 2024 Saints, spending six seasons in New Orleans. He served as Vikings assistant QBs coach in 2025. Minnesota has already lost tight ends coach Brian Angelichio to an OC post (with the Steelers) and wide receivers coach Tony Sorrentino to the Cardinals. Traylor would represent another defection from Kevin O’Connell‘s offensive staff.
- The Raiders are also expected to hire Zach Azzani as their wide receivers coach, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Azzani, 49, previously worked with Kubiak on the 2022 Broncos’ staff. Denver’s five-year WRs coach (2018-22), Azzani coached the Jets’ receivers in 2023 and spent the past two years in that role with the Steelers. Las Vegas would be Azzani’s fifth NFL stop as a receivers coach.
- Dismissed by the Cowboys as they changed defensive staffs last month, Andre Curtis has found a new home. The Chiefs announced his hire as safeties coach. Curtis, 49, has been an NFL staffer since 2006. He spent seven seasons on Pete Carroll‘s Seattle staffs (2015-21), finishing that tenure with four seasons as the Seahawks’ pass-game coordinator on defense. After three seasons coaching Bears safeties, Curtis worked as the Cowboys’ defensive pass-game coordinator last season. Steve Spagnuolo had Curtis on all three of Rams staffs when the former was St. Louis’ HC from 2009-11.
- After dodging an ACL tear near the end of the Chiefs’ season, Gardner Minshew has returned to full strength, per Schefter. Minshew, who started in Week 16 but missed Kansas City’s final two games, will be healthy as teams evaluate him as a potential backup or bridge option in free agency.
- Broncos DB/special-teamer JL Skinner revealed he played the 2025 season with a labrum tear, confirming (via Mile High Sports’ Cody Roark) he underwent surgery recently. One season remains on Skinner’s rookie contract; he saw action on 68% of the Broncos’ special teams plays last season.
- The Chargers started a bit early in free agency by re-signing Teair Tart. The veteran defensive tackle has done well on his third Bolts deal. Tart re-signed on a three-year, $30MM contract that includes $15MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. This guarantee includes $4.98MM of his 2027 salary. Tart, 29 later this month, played on a one-year, $4.5MM deal in 2025. Both the Titans and Dolphins cut him earlier this decade.
Broncos Eyeing OL, Deep Threat WR Before Deadline
NOVEMBER 1: Fowler confirms (video link) the Broncos remain interested in a guard and/or speed wideout addition. He describes the team as a “window shopper” at this point, though, indicating nothing is imminent.
OCTOBER 30: The second year of the Broncos’ Sean Payton–Bo Nix partnership has gotten off to an excellent start with a 6-2 record and sole possession of first place in the AFC West.
That could position Denver as a buyer ahead of the trade deadline. The Broncos already have an elite defense and are looking to add on the other side of the ball, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. In particular, they are looking at offensive guard, tight end, and wide receiver.
Week 1 starting left guard Ben Powers landed on injured reserve earlier this month, pressing Alex Palczewski into duty in the last two games. Palczewski, who has played on the right side of the offensive line for all of his college and professionally, used the Broncos’ DARI Motion technology to track and improve his technique on the left side, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. As a result, he has held up well at an unfamiliar position, but Powers’ earliest return would come in December. Adding a guard could offer an upgrade on Palczewski as well as added insurance if Powers cannot come back this season.
Tight end Evan Engram has been somewhat of a disappointment to start the year after signing with the Broncos in free agency. He is only averaging 30.7 yards per game with just one touchdown, far below his production in Jacksonville in the last three years. Denver could explore trading for tight end, but there may not be a clear upgrade available.
An addition at wide receiver seems more likely. Courtland Sutton has been excellent as usual, and Troy Franklin has thrived in the short and intermediate areas of the field. The Broncos are therefore interest in a “classic, field-stretching receiving option” (via Fowler) who would be a more consistent deep threat than Marvin Mims. Fowler’s colleague Dan Graziano floated a deal with Payton’s former team, the Saints, that would bring Rashid Shaheed to Denver. Such a move would not be a reunion as Payton had already left New Orleans by the time Shaheed was drafted in 2022.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/23
Wednesday’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed from practice squad: LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
- Signed off Ravens’ practice squad: TE Travis Vokolek
- Placed on IR: TE Geoff Swaim, LB Josh Woods
Carolina Panthers
- Designated to return from IR: LB Claudin Cherelus
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Falcons): DT Travis Bell
Denver Broncos
- Designated to return from IR: OL Alex Palczewski
New York Giants
- Designated to return from IR: RB Gary Brightwell, T Matt Peart
New York Jets
- Waived: FB Nick Bawden
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: DT Kalia Davis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Designated to return from IR: WR Rakim Jarrett
Tennessee Titans
- Signed off Texans’ practice squad: LB Garret Wallow
- Placed on IR: WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Broncos Move CB K’Waun Williams To IR; CB Fabian Moreau, DT Mike Purcell Re-Sign
Three Broncos are moving to IR. While it remains to be seen how the team will use its eight allotted activations this season, three options became available Thursday.
Cornerback K’Waun Williams, safety P.J. Locke and tackle Alex Palczewski landed on IR. Each must miss at least four games. To replace them on the 53-man roster, Denver brought back longtime nose tackle Mike Purcell, cornerback Fabian Moreau and tackle Quinn Bailey. Each was on the radar to return, and the Broncos are not deviating from their cutdown-day play.
Purcell agreed to be released to help the Broncos manage their roster. He has joined several veterans in yo-yoing off and then back onto an active roster this week. A regular Broncos contributor since he made the jump from the Alliance of American Football to the NFL in 2019, Purcell was also released and then re-signed ahead of last season. Purcell, 32, will again be expected to be a regular on Denver’s defensive line.
An ankle injury, which will require surgery, will lead to Williams’ IR placement. The longtime 49ers slot corner is going into the second season of a two-year, $5.2MM Broncos deal. Essang Bassey, who intercepted three passes during the preseason, may well be called upon to line up alongside Patrick Surtain and Damarri Mathis in nickel sets to start the season.
Moreau, however, will supply depth for the AFC West team. Moreau spent last season with the Giants, coming over after the Texans released him after the preseason. The Broncos signed the former Washington third-round pick earlier this month.
Bailey has been with the Broncos since 2019, working as a backup. Denver’s injury troubles at tackle last season led to Bailey starting his first career game. The team has Cameron Fleming in place as its swing tackle — behind starters Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey — but Bailey is back on the roster to provide additional depth.
Broncos Sign 15 Undrafted Free Agents
As more teams’ rookie minicamps commence, UDFA classes are emerging. The Broncos brought in 15 post-draft free agents. Here is how Denver’s group looks:
- TE Nate Adkins (South Carolina)
- ILB Seth Benson (Iowa)
- G Henry Boyd (Princeton)
- WR Dallas Daniels (Jackson State)
- CB Darrious Gaines (Western Colorado)
- CB Art Green (Houston)
- WR Taylor Grimes (Incarnate Word)
- OLB Marcus Haynes (Old Dominion)
- OLB Thomas Incoom (Central Michigan)
- T Demontrey Jacobs (South Florida)
- TE Kris Leach (Kent State)
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin (Youngstown State)
- DT P.J. Mustipher (Penn State)
- T Alex Palczewski (Illinois)
- RB Emanuel Wilson (Fort Valley State)
Green received a nice $180K salary guarantee to sign, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. The 6-foot-2 cover man earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference acclaim last season and finished his career with a Most Valuable Defender honor in the Independence Bowl. The Broncos have seen a number of UDFAs make significant impacts for their team over the past several years, from Chris Harris to Shaq Barrett to Phillip Lindsay. Green’s guarantee suggests he is a good bet to challenge for a 53-man roster spot.
Palczewski received $80K to sign, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. He will join the Broncos with more starter experience than just about any college player has accumulated in the sport’s history, having made a Big Ten-record 65 starts for the Fighting Illini. The additional eligibility year the NCAA granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic boosted this total, but Palczewski received All-American acclaim from several publications last season. He spent six years in college and, while logging nearly 20 starts at guard — some of which as a true freshman back in 2017 — worked as Illinois’ primary right tackle over the past several years.
Grimes finished his college career with back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons, while Incoom totaled 11.5 sacks as a senior. McLaughlin finished his career with consecutive 1,100-plus-yard rushing seasons at Youngstown State, while Wilson totaled 1,371 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022. The Broncos signed Samaje Perine but have a fairly unclear backfield pecking order, given the uncertainty surrounding starter Javonte Williams‘ return from an October ACL tear.