2021 Broncos' Season, Off-Season Questions, Offensive Line

 


For the Broncos, the off-season is here. George Paton was hired to serve as GM and Vic Fangio is staying as coach, but there are plenty of other questions to answer. As we head into the off-season, I'll be considering these topics each week.

One of the last moves John Elway made before ceding the reigns to Paton was locking up left tackle Garrett Bolles. That wasn't always a certainty. Bolles was a first round pick, and for three years it was an up-and-down ride. That led the Broncos to pass on a fifth year option prior to the 2020 season. But during that season, Bolles turned in the kind of performance the Broncos had expected when they grabbed him in the 2017 draft, and so Elway locked him up.

That answers one question on the line going into 2021. The Broncos have a few young pieces on the line, too, in guard Dalton Risner, going into his third year, and center Lloyd Cushenberry, going into his second year. They also signed veteran guard Graham Glasgow last off-season. Those are the good things. But the questions are depth and right tackle.

Elway splashed out a huge contract for Ju'Wuan James during the 2019 off-season. James was injured most of his first year and opted out in 2020, so the Broncos haven't really seen what he could be. He carries a pretty hefty cap hit at $13 million, but that jumps to $19 million if he's released. That's not out of the question, but probably doesn't make a lot of sense. So James could fill the void at right tackle, and if all the above stay healthy, the Broncos could have the makings of a strong offensive line. At least among the starting group.

But it always takes more than five to get through the season. Also on the roster is young center Patrick Morris, guard Netane Muti and tackle Quinn Bailey. Muti showed well as a rookie in 2020, and figures to be a reliable part of the group. But the Broncos will want to address the tackle position, either through free agency, the draft or a combination of both prior to the season.

With Mike Munchak as the line coach, the Broncos can maximize the talent they have on the roster. And the questions about what we'll see from James aside, the Broncos have made some good additions in the past few seasons, especially with how Bolles has stepped up his game under Munchak's coaching. For Paton, success has to start with making sure the Broncos' offense is set up front. This might not be the flashiest position, but it's the foundation for success, and something the Broncos can't overlook this off-season.

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