Broncos' OT Depth: Should Fans be Worried?

Every NFL team has those players that are guaranteed to make the roster. They're the easiest ones to project onto the 53-man roster, and even a team that went 5-12 the year before, like the Denver Broncos, has them.

Now it is time for the quarterback protectors, the offensive tackles. This isn't a strong position for the Broncos, but they have made a couple of signings to improve the unit. If they can stay healthy, there is plenty of ability to hold up, but the depth is quite concerning if injuries happen.

As I break down this position, players will be placed into three tiers reflecting their chances of making the roster. Here's a quick explanation of the three tiers that reflect the different percentage ranges that each player will fall into.

With that out of the way, let's examine how the odds shape up for the Broncos at offensive tackle.

Tier 1: 70-100%

Garett Bolles | Mike McGlinchey

Both of these players are at that 100% mark to make the roster. The Broncos don't have another option to start outside of these two players, and they signed McGlinchey to a massive deal as one of their premier free agents.

With Bolles returning from injury, the hope is he can turn back to form. Ideally, improved coaching will be beneficial after his play took a step back before his season-ending injury in 2022. This is an essential season for Bolles, with a ton of pressure on his shoulders.

McGlinchey is coming to a new team and a somewhat different system than what he got used to with the San Francisco 49ers, but when he is on the field, he is a good run blocker. This was a good signing for the Broncos, but he needs to stay out on the field.

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Tier 2: 40-69%

Quinn Bailey | Cam Fleming

Bailey was moved inside by the last coaching staff, and he struggled. He has been decent enough when he has taken the field at tackle, though. He isn't the Broncos' backup swing tackle but the fourth guy at the position.

There is a clear gap between Bailey and the guys in the next tier. His versatility, though not great working inside, is enough to keep him in this tier for a whole offensive line lacking quality depth.

Re-signing Fleming was big because the Broncos didn't have a swing tackle. He showed his value last year by playing on both sides of the line and playing quite well. He comes in as the swing tackle and is a solid option.

Fleming nearly landed in the first tier without any other options, but with how aggressive Sean Payton is, he could look elsewhere for a backup swing tackle, which keeps Fleming barely below the 70% mark.

READ: Broncos Roster Prediction: Revealing Each QB's Odds of Making it

Tier 3: 0-39%

Isaiah Prince | Christian DiLauro | Demontrey Jacobs | Alex Palczewski

This is a list of 'who?' players with hardly any time on an NFL field from the group. Prince did see over 600 snaps in 2021 for the Cincinnati Bengals, but it went terribly. He has the most experience in the group at the NFL level. With 712 total snaps played on offense, he has allowed six sacks and penalized 16 times, with 13 of them accepted.

The other three have not taken the field in a regular-season game. That isn't a lot to go with when building out the depth of the position, and it's why each tackle falls in this tier.

Prince has more experience than Bailey, so Prince is higher in Tier 3 than the other three. However, that experience wasn't great, and Prince doesn't have the versatility Denver gets in Bailey, leading to the difference in tiers between the two.

The Takeaway

If the Broncos can stay healthy, they'll be fine at the tackle position. Denver's starting duo should, at the very least, be solid. However, injuries are a concern with both, and the depth overall is highly lackluster.

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