Examining Broncos' Options in the Current Offensive Tackle Market

In the Denver Broncos' loss in the preseason opener, the team didn't get the results it wanted from the offensive tackles. High-priced right tackle Mike McGlinchey did not play due to injury, with Garett Bolles and Isaiah Prince starting the game.

Bolles was a disaster, and Prince was only a little bit better. Cam Fleming came in for Bolles and was somehow even worse. That doesn't bode well for the position.

While there are many excuses one can make for Bolles, it's well past the point of validity. Coming off his season-ending broken leg injury, he was able to partake in offseason activities and has been in the NFL since 2017. He should be better than he was. Bolles was getting beat by a player entering Year 6 in the NFL, his first as an edge rusher, and with only 480 snaps on defense over his whole career.

It sucks that McGlinchey wasn't out there, as the Broncos' starting unit needs time to gel. However, he has a significant injury history, having played three full seasons out of five. Prince was the best of the starting unit, but McGlinchey needs to get healthy and stay healthy.

As for Fleming, he was a mess, and this was against a weak Cardinals defensive front. There is reason for alarm about the Broncos' tackle position and offensive line in general.

While I've focused on the tackles, the Broncos' interior O-line also had its fair share of issues. It isn't time to hit the panic button, but it could be if the tackles do poorly against the San Francisco 49ers.

There are some free-agent tackles the Broncos can look at, but none of them should be handed a starting job. They could be worth bringing in for additional competition, improving the depth, or seeing what they have left to offer.

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Taylor Lewan is at the top of the list but also has a serious injury history. Add him to the competition if a cheap deal can get done with incentives. Jason Peters is in the same boat but at 41 years old. There may not be a lot left in the tank.

Mike Remmers, Marcus Cannon, and Ty Nsekhe are the other three free agents that stand out for the Broncos to take a look at. They come with experience and could add to the competition.

Not only do the Broncos need someone to kick Bolles in the butt, they also need someone to push Fleming. The better option, unfortunately, the more costly, is to see what's on the trade market. That would cost money as well as picks, and when looking at every NFL roster, there are not many options that may even be available.

Offensive tackle play, in general, is down around the NFL, and many teams are dealing with injuries or even suspensions to starters. Those factors will see teams hold onto talented backups unless a team overpays in draft picks to land one. When looking through every roster, only three tackles stood out that could be options, and each one of them seems unlikely their current team will move on from them.

Mekhi Becton has been in the doghouse with the New York Jets. Duane Brown is their starting tackle and is dealing with an injury. Billy Turner is listed as the starter and started the Jets' last preseason game.

Becton did start the Hall of Fame game, but he was pulled after seven snaps. There have been reports on top of reports about issues between Becton and the coaching staff. It could be worth a phone call to see what it'd take for the former first-round tackle.

Hakeem Adeniji is a backup in Cincinnati, and the Bengals still have plenty of concerns about their offensive line. He is entering Year 4, all with the Bengals, so the familiarity is there. The Bengals may not be keen to move their backup left tackle with the difficulty of finding quality players at the position.

Finally, there is Cornelius Lucas of the Washington Commanders, and there is a similar issue as the Bengals. Lucas has been in the NFL since 2014 and has been with five different teams. He isn't one to look at as a potential starter, but to hopefully improve the depth.

The issue the Broncos have is if Bolles doesn't step it up, they need to find a replacement starter. The Broncos don't have one on the roster unless Fleming turns it around, and there aren't any options as free agents. When looking at trades, the only option with upside is Becton, but how much would that cost?

Bottom Line

There is such a need from the Broncos to see Bolles or Fleming step up and McGlinchey be healthy. If it doesn't happen, Denver could be in a bad spot for the season, and tackle would have to be at the top of the priority list after the season.

Don't hit the panic button yet, but the intelligent thing for Denver to do is see what's out there and factor in the potential costs. The alarm bell has been rung, and it's better to be prepared instead of caught off guard and panicking.

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