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Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Quenton Nelson.
Despite the praise the Denver Broncos’ offensive line has received this offseason, the group has produced little through its first six regular-season games.
The Broncos may need a change — one that brings immediate help and a different attitude.
Daniel Popper of The Athletic suggested the Broncos as a trade destination for Indianapolis Colts star guard Quenton Nelson, a move that would send longtime underachieving — and overpaid — guard Ben Powers to the bench.
The NFL trade deadline is November 10.
“Nelson is a franchise cornerstone in Indianapolis,” Popper wrote. “In his ninth year and age 30 season, he remains one of the best offensive linemen in football. Nelson is on an expiring contract, so the Colts won’t have any dead money on their cap beyond this season if they trade their star left guard. The Colts could get immediate draft capital for the 2027 draft. If they hold on to Nelson and let him enter free agency2.
For the Broncos, that equation could be as simple as offering a conditional 2027 3rd-round pick that becomes a 2nd-round pick if Nelson starts more than one playoff game.
Quenton Nelson: Dominant Player on Terrible Teams
Nelson, 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, is the Colts’ No. 6 overall pick out of Notre Dame in the 2018 NFL Draft and, like everyone else in the Colts organization, has been left reeling since star quarterback Andrew Luck shocked the football world with his retirement before the 2019 season.
Since then, Nelson has pretty much dominated anyone unlucky enough to line up across from him on some pretty awful teams — the Colts have made the playoffs just once and haven’t won a playoff game since Luck retired.
Don’t feel too bad for Nelson, a 6-time NFL All-Pro and 8-time Pro Bowler — he’ll bank an incredible $118.3 million in career earnings by the end of the 2026 season.
Ben Powers Reworked Contract in the Offseason
In July, Powers agreed to restructure the 4-year, $52 million contract he signed before the 2023 season after struggling with injuries in 2025.
In 2026, he struggled with his performance. According to Pro Football Focus, Powers’ 52.8 overall grade ranks him 56th out of 76 eligible players at his position.
“Sources told 9NEWS that the Broncos’ starting left guard has accepted a restructured, one-year contract that will leave him with less salary but more than that guaranteed,” Mike Klis of 9News Denver wrote. “A source said that while the pay cut is significant, Powers will still get ‘starter’ money in 2026. Powers is scheduled to make $13 million this season, though none of that is guaranteed until he makes the season-opening, 53-man roster. Now, it’s a training-camp battle between Powers, a natural left guard, and Alex Palczewski, who left a natural guard, as a natural guard last left by Alex Palczewski.. Powers, 29, is entering his eighth NFL season, fourth with the Broncos.
This isn’t the first time Powers has renegotiated his contract for the Broncos. Before the 2024 season, he added 2 void years and took $10.875 million of his 2024 salary as a signing bonus — a move that cleared $8.7 million in salary cap space.
Tony Adam covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, and the entire NFC East Division. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured in Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame