2018 Broncos' Season, Offensive Line Preview


We're just a few weeks from training camp, and about a month away from pre-season. so now is the time to start looking at this Broncos squad. In a series of pieces I'll be looking at each position group prior to the start of the pre-season. Today I'm looking at offensive line.

Players: Garrett Bolles, Matt Paradis, Ronald Leary, Jared Veldheer, Connor McGovern, Sam Jones, Max Garcia, Menelik Watson, Elijah Wilkinson, Cyrus Kouandjio, J.J. Dielman, Billy Turner, Leon Johnson, Andreas Knappe, Jeremiah Poutasi, and Austin Schlottmann

2018 Outlook: There is perhaps no more important unit on the team than the offensive line. A weakness and struggle with this group the past few years has limited the upside of the offense and, therefore, the team. But there started to be a light at the end of the tunnel last season. Leary brought a strong veteran presence, Paradis continues to be solid in the middle and 2017 First Round pick Bolles showed promise as left tackle. That gives the Broncos essentially half a strong line. This off-season, the Broncos brought in Veldheer to solidify the right tackle spot, which has been a disaster for several years. And that could give the team four solid starters. But if you know football, you know five guys have to start on the offensive line. So that brings us to right guard. McGovern showed promise late in 2017, and Garcia is a high draft pick from a few years back that is still competing in that role. So the Broncos have some options, and may have some depth, too. There are currently 16 guys on the roster in this group. Best guess is Broncos carry eight or nine guys. So that means there will be some fierce competition for the last two or three spots.

Key Question: What is the starting lineup? Bolles, Leary, Paradis and Veldheer seem locked into starting spots. The real question is right guard. Right now it seems like Garcia and McGovern will be battling it out in training camp and pre-season, but there are a lot of guys on the roster and it's possible that the starter hasn't emerged. Either way, the Broncos can only go as far as the line can take them. Case Keenum gives them a veteran passer, Devontae Booker, DeAngelo Henderson and Royce Freeman give them a stable of backs, and DT, Emmanuel Sanders, Jake Butt, Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton give them passing weapons. None of it matters if the line can't hold up.

Prediction: I think McGovern earns the starting spot. He was strong to end the season in 2017, and I'm hoping he carries that forward. Final group projection: Paradis, Bolles, Leary, Veldheer, McGovern, Garcia, Turner, and Watson. Plus several on the Practice Squad.

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