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NFL free agency: Broncos reportedly upgrade OL for Russell Wilson with OG Ben Powers

The first free agency moves of Sean Payton's era with the Denver Broncos include a starting offensive lineman and a backup quarterback after the team reportedly agreed to deals with guard Ben Powers and quarterback Jarrett Stidham.

Powers reportedly agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with $28.5 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Powers, 26, started all 17 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 and would seemingly slide into the starting left guard spot previously held by Dalton Risner, who is an impending free agent. Powers would be a major upgrade for quarterback Russell Wilson after Powers allowed just one sack and committed just one penalty in 2022.

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The other deal the Broncos reportedly struck Monday was for Stidham, who agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal after he spent the 2022 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, per Rapoport. Stidham's reportedly deal includes $5 million guaranteed with another $4 million in incentives.

Although the Broncos will trot out Wilson for as long as he's healthy, Stidham would be a better backup than Brett Rypien, who finished with more interceptions than touchdowns in four games (and two starts) and averaged only 5.5 yards per attempt. Stidham, meanwhile, averaged 7.9 yards per attempt in five games (and two starts) for the Raiders and finished with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Bigger moves could be on the horizon for Denver, too. The team is reportedly shopping receivers Courtland Suton, Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. Suttton and Jeudy finished top-two on the team in receptions, receiving yards nd receiving touchdowns this past season.