ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The projected damage from the likely eating of Russell Wilson’s $39 million payout in 2024 figures to fissure other Broncos’ position groups.
One position that may be brimming with future financial concerns is the offensive line.
The Broncos were No. 4 in the league in offensive line cash payroll in 2023 with $58.45 million. Only the Texans ($83.12 million), Falcons ($73,26 million) and Bengals ($64.32 million) paid more.
The Broncos’ front earned their money as it joined the Bills and Bengals as the only teams that started the same five offensive linemen in every game this year. Denver’s streak may be threatened in the 17th and final game as right tackle Mike McGlinchey was knocked out early in game 16 Sunday with a rib injury. Managing to breathe without shooting pain will be step one to his recovery this week.
Looking ahead to 2024, the Broncos have three offensive linemen who are making big money (McGlinchey, Garett Bolles, Ben Powers) and two more who are about to (Lloyd Cushenberry III, Quinn Meinerz). The Broncos have to trim somewhere to offset Wilson’s salary and roughly $80 million in dead cap over the next two years his likely departure will create.
Here’s a look at the Broncos’ offensive linemen and the money each earned in 2023:
Left tackle: Garett Bolles, $14 million
Has one year left on his contract that is scheduled to pay him a non-guaranteed $16 million in 2024. Already, 11 offensive tackles are on the books to make more next season so unless the Broncos fall in love with a blind-side protector in the middle of the first round, they have good value with Bolles.
Bolles had one of his two best seasons in 2023, allowing just two sacks – which is saying something considering Wilson was sacked 45 times through 15 games. After Bolles missed the final 12 games last season with a leg fracture, he is the only Bronco who hasn’t missed a snap this year (1,011 offensive snaps). Bolles other great season was 2020 when he was a second-team All Pro and signed a four-year, $68 million contract extension.
Left guard: Ben Powers, $15 million
No decision here. Powers will be back for a guaranteed $12 million in 2024. Was charged with four sacks allowed but otherwise had a good, solid first year in Denver.
Center: Lloyd Cushenberry, $2.743 million*
A third-round draft pick in 2020, Cushenberry is in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract so he’ll become an unrestricted free agent in March. Four-year starters heading into their fifth NFL season are the most valued commodities in the free agent market so Cushenberry should command a contract in the $8 million to $12 million a year range.
Given all the money the Broncos are paying at three other offensive line positions – and big money they will need next year if they want to re-sign right guard Quinn Meinerz – it may be difficult for the Broncos to meet Cushenberry’s value.
The Broncos did draft center Alex Forsyth in the 7th round this year. Forsyth was on the 53-man roster all season, although he was inactive for all 16 games.
Right guard: Quinn Meinerz, $1.095 million
By far, the Broncos’ highest-ranked offensive lineman as graded by Pro Football Focus, Meinerz will return in 2024 on the final year of his rookie contract that will pay him $1.24 million next year.
And then watch out.
There are 9 offensive guards making at least $16 million a year and two (Chris Lindstrom and Quenton Nelson) who are averaging at least $20 million per.
Meinerz is Wisconsin woods strong who has lit up the league’s blocking reels this year.
Right tackle: Mike McGlinchey, $20 million
PFF charged him with a team-high 6 sacks allowed but if grading on a curve, it isn’t easy being alone on the outer edge against some of the league’s top pass rushers, especially when Wilson liked to scramble to his right.
McGlinchey has the same “early trigger” guarantee mechanism that became such a lightning rod in Wilson’s contract. McGlinchey is guaranteed to make $15 million in 2024 but a decision on his $17.5 million salary for 2025 must be made by this March 17 (fifth day of the 2024 league year).
Backups: OT, Cam Fleming, $2.5 million*; OL Quinn Bailey $940,000*; Luke Wattenberg, $870,000; Alex Forsyth, $827,776; Alex Palczewski, $470,000; Demontrey Jacobs, $216,000; Will Sherman, $216,000.
*Free agents after season. Bailey is a restricted free agent.
The key among backups may be Forsyth. Is he ready to become a starting center in 2024? Go back to 2015 – please, go back to 2015! -- when Matt Paradis became the Broncos’ starting center after he spent his entire rookie season of 2014 on the practice squad.
So there’s precedent for Forsyth to step in. If not, the Broncos’ options would be to either try and sign Cushenberry before he tests the market, sign another veteran center through free agency, or draft the next Cushenberry in the middle rounds.
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