Broncos set to play the long game with developing fourth-round pick Kage Casey

If Broncos fourth-round pick Kage Casey starts a game this season in a use beyond being an eligible tackle in a six-offensive lineman package, something probably went wrong.

This isn’t a knock on the Boise State product or his long-term outlook, of which the Broncos thought enough to make him their third draft pick in this year’s class, rolling the dice that N.C. State’s Justin Joly would be around later for the team to take as it addressed its tight-end position with a pass-catching option. Rather, it’s the fact that it might take at least two injuries — if not more — along the line for Casey to take the field.

If left guard Ben Powers were a salary-cap casualty at the roster deadline, that would alter the calculus a bit. But under head coach Sean Payton, the team has shown little inkling to make cap cuts for the sake of weakening overall depth.

(Yes, Russell Wilson was released in 2024 despite the $85-million cap hit over two years, but that came with the putative intention of selecting another quarterback to improve the position in that year’s draft, a desire that came to fruition with the selection of Bo Nix, who had a better EPA/play as a rookie — 0.090 — than Wilson did in his final Broncos season, at 0.066.)

Take last year for example, when safety P.J. Locke found himself relegated to reserve status after the team signed Talanoa Hufanga. Denver could have saved $4.19 million of cap space by parting ways with Locke. But it would have hindered its safety depth in the process.

The Broncos will make moves to ease roster jams — see the trade of Devaughn Vele last year — but they won’t be strictly on the basis of salary. And considering the value the team places on offensive-line continuity, it would be an upset if the team undermined that before the expiration of a contract, even though the team did function without Powers for much of the season.

But it’s not just the presence of Powers that could keep rookie opportunities at a minimum for Casey. The return of Alex Palczewski on a three-year contract puts the versatile four-year veteran in position to fill in again at left guard.

Further, the team last year treated its primary backups as swing players between two positions on a side rather than as a swing guard or tackle, with Palczewski the primary right-side understudy and Matt Peart handling the left side, which is why he stepped in for Powers at first before suffering an injury of his own.

Given Palczewski’s success after adjusting to the left side — where he hadn’t been since high school — it would be a surprise if he wasn’t the next man up at both guard spots this time around, even if the team continues its left-side/right-side focus.

CASEY’S PATH TO A BRONCOS FUTURE: GUARD OR TACKLE?

When Casey worked out at the Senior Bowl last January, coaches had him working more inside than outside, despite his extensive college experience at tackle. With sub-33-inch arms — 32 3/4 inches — guard is a more ideal spot for him at this level than tackle.

By comparison, starting tackles Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey each have 34-inch arms. Crum has 33-7/8-inch arms. Palczewski’s arms are 33 5/8 inches in length.

So, there could be a long-term scenario where Palczewski eventually moves to one of the tackle spots — perhaps right tackle, where McGlinchey’s contract expires after the 2027 campaign — while Casey slides inside to handle guard in 2027 or beyond. But Crum’s presence also matters at guard, and the Broncos already have two years of investment in him, which began paying dividends as the 2025 season progressed, when he worked as the sixth offensive lineman reporting as eligible.

Crum and Palczewski can — in the short term — give Casey a long runway to develop. With them on the roster, Casey doesn’t have to be ready to step in unless a collection of injury calamities at the highest order transpire.

And that’s exactly what the Broncos want. Their patience paid off with Palczewski. It’s showing signs of promising returns with Crum, who could be next on the line to receive a new contract, as he’s in the final year of his deal before becoming eligible for restricted free agency next March.

The Broncos don’t have to make any decisions on him now. They can incubate him and let him develop over time.

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