The Broncos’ pre-free agency work is kicking into gear.
The team on Thursday finalized a two-year contract with reserve offensive lineman Alex Palczewski. Multiple sources told The Post that the agreement has a base value of $9.5 million.
The deal comes with $5.6 million guaranteed and can be worth up to $11 million, sources said.
Palczewski was a restricted free agent, so the Broncos had multiple routes to keeping him on the roster, but now they’ve got him under contract through the 2027 season.
Denver would have needed to tender Palczewski at either the lowest number ($3.5 million) or at the second-round number ($5.8 million), so it’s logical that the deal checked in between those marks.
‘Palcho’ proved himself a valuable commodity over the past two seasons, but especially during the 2025 campaign. A career-long right-side player, he had previously filled in capably for Mike McGlinchey at right tackle. Then this fall, he switched sides and started 10 games at left guard while Ben Powers was out with a torn biceps.
“I don’t know that there’s a harder thing to ask a lineman to do than go from — he’s a right tackle, OK — to go play left guard,” Broncos offensive line coach Zach Strief told The Post midseason. “It’s about as hard as it gets. The conversation about him and making that call to have him play was, we knew he’s mentally as tough as can be. He’s physically tough, and he’s going to go fight. Smart, tough, physical is a really good combination for offensive linemen.”
Palczewski started the season as Denver’s “Jumbo” tight end, appeared in all 17 games, and in total played 58.3% of the club’s offensive snaps.
“He doesn’t look like a throw-in left guard,” head coach Sean Payton said as Palczewski settled into playing there. “He’s smart. He’s tough. It’s good to see him playing. When you look at some of the guys we were able to get after the draft and late, that’s like gold getting those types of players.”
Indeed, Palczewski first signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and made the club out of training camp, though he missed the entire season on injured reserve. Since then, he’s been a developmental player the Broncos think can be a long-term starter at more than one position.
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