Ben Powers

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Denver Broncos committed highway robbery with this Ben Powers signing, turning what should have been a bargain-bin addition into a catastrophic cap allocation that earns an F CVI. Powers enters as an unproven commodity at guard yet somehow commanded $13M AAV — money typically reserved for above-average to solid starter-caliber interior linemen who've actually demonstrated consistent NFL production. This isn't just a slight overpay for an unproven player; it's franchise-damaging resource mismanagement that suggests Denver either grossly misread the guard market or got desperate after missing on better options. The one-year structure does provide an escape hatch, but guaranteed money means the Broncos are locked into paying elite-level compensation for replacement-level uncertainty. This deal represents everything wrong with modern NFL contract negotiations — paying for potential rather than proven performance, leaving Denver with one of the worst value propositions at the position this offseason.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the F band — a quick read on where Ben's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Ben Powers enters his seventh NFL season as a veteran interior lineman for the Denver Broncos, bringing experience to an offensive line that has undergone significant reconstruction in recent years. Despite his seven years in the league, Powers has appeared in just 34 career games, a figure that raises legitimate questions about his ability to hold up over the course of a full season and serve as a reliable anchor at the guard position. For a player at his stage of professional development, that body of work places him well below the threshold of an established starter, and the durability concerns are impossible to overlook when projecting his value to Sean Payton's offense. His overall profile earns a failing grade at this stage, driven almost entirely by an inability to stay on the field consistently enough to build meaningful continuity with his teammates and cement a role in the offensive scheme. What Powers does bring is the institutional knowledge of a player who has navigated an NFL roster for the better part of a decade, and if healthy, that experience could provide some stabilizing presence alongside younger linemen still finding their footing. The 29-year-old is entering a window where durability is no longer just a storyline but a genuine make-or-break factor for his career trajectory. Whether he can log a full slate of games in Denver will define not just his 2024 season, but the realistic ceiling of his NFL future.

How Ben Compares at the Position

Ben Powers ranks 143rd of 166 graded gs by performance. That slots Ben between Cole Strange (F) just ahead and Andrus Peat (F) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Ben Powers carries a C sentiment grade right now, with the conversation around his durability concerns and organizational uncertainty shaping the narrative. The 29-year-old left guard has become a case study in how quickly roster momentum can shift: a biceps injury that sidelined him for significant stretches in 2025 opened the door to front-office speculation about replacement-level prospects, and subsequent trade destination reports have cast real doubt over whether Denver views him as part of the long-term interior line solution. That disconnect between a capable, seven-year veteran and an organization actively exploring alternatives has eroded confidence substantially—his performance grade reflects that same struggle on the field, making the combination of injury history and organizational ambiguity particularly damaging to his standing. The Broncos' recent roster churn—releasing running back Deuce Vaughn and offensive tackle Marques Cox while signing depth pieces at defensive back and tight end—signals a front office in active evaluation mode, and Powers' uncertain status fits squarely into that narrative of potential flux. What keeps his sentiment from bottoming out entirely is a reported contract adjustment and a statement that he would remain with the team, but those stabilizing gestures have barely moved the needle against the volume of replacement talk and trade speculation; he's now perceived as a player at a genuine crossroads rather than a foundational piece heading into 2026.