How Broncos' Cash Commitments on OL Impact 2023 Outlook

The Denver Broncos have made the majority of their offseason moves, some more recent as they fine-tune the roster before training camp begins.

Thus, we have a better idea of how much the Broncos will commit in terms of money toward the roster going into 2023. We can also get a better idea about the money commitment in 2024, given who is currently under contract with the team in 2024.

In the coming weeks, I'll review each positional group and look at the money that's currently being committed to the biggest names in 2023, what can be expected for 2024, and what changes could potentially happen, which then affects the money committed.

We'll continue this series with the offensive line, a positional group in which changes might occur after the 2023 season.

Offensive Line Roster in 2023

Current offensive tackles: Garett Bolles, Mike McGlinchey, Quinn Bailey, Christian DeLaurio, Isaiah Prince, Demontrey Jacobs

Current offensive guards: Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz, Will Sherman, Hunter Thedford, Alex Palczewski, Henry Byrd

Current centers: Lloyd Cushenberry, Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth, Kyle Fuller

Largest cash commitments for 2023: Bolles is due at a $13.75 million base salary (not guaranteed) with a $250K per-game roster bonus. McGlinchey got a $17.5M signing bonus and a $2.5M base salary, all fully guaranteed, for a $20M cash commitment. Powers got a $13M signing bonus and a $2M base salary, all fully guaranteed, for a $15M cash commitment. The three veterans combined for $48.75M in cash commitments.

Cushenberry is due a $2.74M base salary, but it's not guaranteed. Meinerz is due a $1.095M base salary, and Fuller is due a $1.08M base salary, neither one with guaranteed money. The remaining players are due less than $1M, and some might not make the final roster or practice squad.

Cash commitments for 2024: Bolles, McGlinchey, and Powers are all under contract for 2024. McGlinchey and Powers are both due fully guaranteed money, with a $15M base salary for McGlinchey and a $12M base salary for Powers. Bolles is due a $15.75M base salary and a $250K per-game roster bonus, but his money isn't guaranteed.

Assuming Bolles is back for 2024, the Broncos will have $42.75M in cash commitments to these three players. As for Meinerz, his salary depends on escalators he may earn, based on a percentage of snaps played and other factors, while Cushenberry and Fuller will be eligible for unrestricted free agency.

What could change for 2023: There were rumors that the Broncos had entertained trade offers for Bolles, but no trade came to fruition. At this point of the offseason, it's hard to see the Broncos trading him unless somebody on the depth chart blows the Broncos coaching staff away.

What could change for 2024: This is where things could get interesting. Given the Broncos' likely need to clear cap space, they could decide to part ways with Bolles.

What happens next for the Broncos? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

The main concern is Bolles' health after his broken leg ended his 2022 season. If his health remains an issue or Bolles struggles to return from injury, the Broncos are likely to cut him. If he stays healthy and plays well, the Broncos are likelier to keep him.

If the Broncos decide to keep Bolles, they can make other moves to gain cap space. An extension could help reduce Bolles' cap number, but it's not a guarantee that will happen. The Broncos may be inclined to draft an offensive tackle in 2024 and simply let Bolles play out the final year of his deal.

But one thing is nearly certain with the center position: If Cushenberry claims the starting job in 2023, the Broncos will likely have a new center for 2024 because Cushenberry will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Given his past struggles, he'll have to make a big impression in 2023 to have a chance to stay for 2024.

Bottom Line

The Broncos are putting a lot of cash toward the offensive line. Obviously, the O-line was a big concern last year, between the number of injuries, lack of proper coaching, and players who simply didn't execute. Those no struggles undoubtedly played a part in the Broncos spending money to sign Powers and McGlinchey.

Where things go in 2024 remains to be seen, though. The Broncos will move forward with Powers and McGlinchey (barring a trade, which is the only way the Broncos can get out of the fully guaranteed money), but Bolles is another story.

Simply put, Bolles needs to stay healthy and play well to have a chance to remain on the roster next year. If that doesn't happen, a change will come — and that might involve drafting a player who would come on a lower-cost contract. While a free agent can't be ruled out, quality left tackles seldom make it to free agency.

As for center, there's a very real chance a player who makes less than $1M in a season will start. Wattenberg and Forsyth have the opportunity to show that one or the other can be the starter for the next couple of seasons.

But getting back to other positions, how much cash the Broncos commit next season depends a lot on Bolles. His performance in 2023 could determine the amount of money that goes to the offensive line.

Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!