The Broncos’ offensive line has gone from strength to concern, and that shift is what makes the idea of chasing Quenton Nelson at the trade deadline far more believable than it might sound at first glance.
For a stretch, Denver’s front looked like one of the NFL’s best units, with Bo Nix’s ability to slip pressure helping mask some issues. But in 2026, the cracks have shown. Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, and Mike McGlinchey all appear to have slipped, and the left guard spot in particular has become a problem the Broncos can’t ignore.
That’s where Nelson enters the picture. After the Colts fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard, Indianapolis suddenly looks more open to dealing, and Jeremy Fowler reported that “Colts have several attractive pieces on the roster, including pending free agent Quenton Nelson.”
Nelson’s résumé speaks for itself. He is an eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, and he’s still in his age-30 season. He has made the Pro Bowl every year of his career, has started every game he’s played, and has missed only four games since entering the league in 2018.
The advanced numbers back up the case, too. PFF has Nelson as the highest-graded guard in football right now at 89.2, with the No. 5 pass-blocking grade and No. 3 run-blocking grade at the position. Powers, meanwhile, is 58th among guards in PFF’s rankings, sitting 71st in pass blocking and 54th in run blocking among 77 qualified players.
That lines up with the eye test. Powers has been getting beat inside, and Denver’s interior run game has struggled to get going.
ESPN’s current ratings reflect the drop-off as well, with the Broncos at 25th in pass blocking and 21st in run blocking. Last year, they were 8th and 4th in those categories, and in 2024 they finished first in both.
That kind of regression is hard to miss, especially for a team that has spent so much effort building in the trenches. Since Sean Payton arrived, Denver has signed Powers, McGlinchey, and Zach Allen, and later extended Garett Bolles, Wattenberg, and Quinn Meinerz. The Broncos have also invested on the defensive line, making it clear that line play has been central to their identity.
That’s also why a move for Nelson fits. Denver is projected to have 10 picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, even after its big trade for Jaylen Waddle, so it isn’t short on draft assets. And the Waddle deal says plenty about how the Broncos see themselves: as a team in the middle of a Super Bowl window.
If they believed Waddle was the missing piece on offense, there’s no reason they couldn’t take the same view on Nelson. The Broncos clearly didn’t expect the offensive line to fall off like this, and with Powers having taken a pay cut this offseason, it only adds to the case for making a real upgrade at left guard.
It’s not often a team gets a true win-now opportunity. Denver appears to think it has one. Adding a future Hall of Fame guard to patch a weakness and boost its title chances would fit that thinking perfectly.
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