Are Broncos likely to draft an offensive tackle in 2020?

For multiple seasons, the Denver Broncos have been trying to solve their issues at offensive tackle.

The right tackle position has drawn the most scrutiny, but there has been plenty of focus on left tackle, too.

Mike Munchak's hiring is one factor that should help improve offensive tackle play. However, chances are the Broncos will be drafting an offensive tackle in 2020, regardless of how the players at that position perform this season.

Let's look at the three tackles who lead the depth chart at this time and their contract statuses.

Garett Bolles

At left tackle, Garett Bolles enters the third year of his first-round draft pick contract. He will enter the fourth year of that deal next season, and during the offseason, the Broncos must decide whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option.

The amount the option will cost isn't set at this time, but one can get an estimate by looking at the 2016 draft class. Taylor Decker, drafted 16th overall, had his fifth-year option picked up by the Lions and that came in at about $10.3M.

Thus, it's likely the option for Bolles will be about $11M. If picked up, it's guaranteed for injury only.

One thing is clear: Regardless of what the Broncos do with the fifth-year option, Bolles is coming closer the end of his current contract. If he sticks around through 2022 and plays well, he could be in line for a big extension.

Ja'Wuan James

Ja'Wuan James, who the Broncos signed in free agency during the offseason, enters the first year of a four-year contract. He has two years worth of base salaries fully guaranteed, meaning he'll be with the team in 2020 unless he's traded. In 2021, he has $5M of base salary that's guaranteed for injury only, and in 2022, the Broncos have a team option they may either exercise or decline.

The Broncos could get out of the deal for cap or skill reasons in 2021 if they want to save cash, though it would come with a $6M dead money charge. In 2022, the dead money charge would be just $3M, meaning it would be easier to get out of the final year of the contract without too much dead money on the cap.

Eli Wilkinson

Elijah Wilkinson, who looks like he will be the swing tackle this year, was tendered earlier this year as an exclusive rights free agent. Next season, he will be a restricted free agent. This year, the right-of-first-refusal tender was more than $2M — that's a little more than you want to pay for a swing tackle.

The Broncos could opt to sign Wilkinson to a one-year deal for less than the cost of that tender. However, that would mean Wilkinson will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2021.

Circle 2022

Regardless of what the Broncos do, one thing is clear: If Bolles and James stick around through 2021, one or the other will be gone in 2022. That's because keeping both around will force the Broncos to commit too much cash to both tackle positions.

That's why it makes sense for the Broncos to draft an offensive tackle in 2020 early — though how early depends on how the current offensive tackles perform.

Let's start with Bolles. He was mediocre overall in his rookie season, struggled in pass protection and committed too many penalties. In his second season, he showed slight improvement in pass protection, but not enough to at least be considered "good" in that aspect. And the penalties remained an issue.

This season, of course, is crucial for Bolles to demonstrate that he can be the long-term answer at left tackle. If he is at least "good" in all aspects this season, chances are the Broncos will exercise his fifth-year option. However, to prove worthy of an extension beyond his rookie deal, he'll need to keep elevating his play.

But even if he does, you still have to keep an eye on how James performs in the coming years. The Broncos committed a lot of cash to him, so he will at least need to be "good" in all aspects to justify him sticking around for at least three seasons.

If we assume he does that, the Broncos could still find themselves in a tough position. James will be due a $2M roster bonus if the Broncos exercise his option for 2022 and would get an $11M base salary. That $13M cash commitment might mean the Broncos won't have the money to pay Bolles — especially when you take into account other players who would be up for extensions in 2022.

And with Wilkinson set to become a restricted free agent next season — then an unrestricted free agent in 2021 should the Broncos extend him for one year — it's clear the Broncos need to prepare for the future, regardless of what Bolles and James do.

Drafting a tackle in 2020

Drafting an offensive tackle in 2020 means that, at the very least, the Broncos should have a starter at a salary that allows them to commit cash elsewhere and keep one veteran offensive tackle around. Such a Draft pick would have a four-year deal, so he would be under contract through 2023.

Of course, there are other reasons the Broncos could draft an offensive tackle early in 2020. The performance of the current tackles is an obvious one. The fact the prospects could be a good class is another reason, because you could get a quality player at a premium position.

When the Broncos draft an offensive tackle should depend on how the current starters perform this season. Much of this will hinge on Bolles, but part of it could hinge on James. Let's examine the scenarios.

The worst-case scenario is both Bolles and James struggle, meaning the Broncos would need to draft a tackle in the first round. However, this would still happen if one starter plays well but the other struggles.

In another scenario, one or both play well enough to be the starter going into 2020, but at an "average" level and thus not worth keeping beyond 2020. That means the Broncos would likely target offensive tackle in the second round, giving that player time to develop, before putting him in the starting lineup in 2021.

The best-case scenario is that Bolles and James are at least "good" this season. However, that shouldn't mean the Broncos rule out an offensive tackle on day two — though they could wait until the third round if they wish. In that scenario, they are drafting a solid prospect who can be the swing tackle for two seasons, then possibly move into the starting lineup in 2022.

Bottom line

By thinking about the position this way, the Broncos have the best means of finding quality offensive tackles for both sides of the line, while not committing too much cash and cap space to both. Remember that if they commit too much cap to both tackle positions, that's less money available for other positions.

While player performance matters, keeping one eye toward the future matters, too. Therefore, it makes sense for the Broncos to draft an offensive tackle in 2020, regardless of how well Bolles and James perform.

Follow Bob on Twitter @BobMorrisSports.