Ben Powers enters the 2026 season with plenty to prove—and his future with the Denver Broncos hanging in the balance.

The veteran left guard is coming off an injury-marred 2025 campaign, where a torn bicep in Week 5 limited him to just eight games and six starts. That’s a tough blow for a player who had been a 17-game starter in each of his first two seasons in Denver. The Broncos' offensive line, once among the NFL's elite, felt the ripple effects as injuries piled up across the front.

Powers originally signed a four-year, $52 million deal with $27 million guaranteed in March 2023, after spending his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Before the injury, he had established himself as a reliable anchor in the Broncos' interior. In 2024, he ranked as the top interior offensive lineman in run block win rate, and the year prior he sat seventh—numbers that speak to his impact when healthy.

Now 29 and entering his eighth NFL season, Powers is slated to reclaim his starting role at left guard. But the clock is ticking. His contract runs through 2026, carrying a cap hit of just over $18 million, making him one of the highest-paid players on the roster. With the recent extension of Alex Palczewski—who filled in admirably during Powers' absence—and the fourth-round selection of versatile Boise State lineman Cage Kasey, the writing may be on the wall. Many analysts believe this will be Powers' final season in a Broncos uniform.

Still, if Powers can return to form, he gives Denver a proven, powerful presence in the trenches. For a team looking to build consistency up front, a healthy Ben Powers could be exactly what the Broncos need—even if it's just for one more year.