The Denver Broncos selected two offensive linemen in the draft but neither of them were an offensive tackle. During a post-draft Zoom conference call with reporters on Saturday evening, Broncos general manager John Elway said Elijah Wilkinson and Garett Bolles will compete for the left tackle job this offseason.
“It’ll be an open competition at the left tackle with Eli and Garett Bolles,” Elway said. “We just didn’t feel like we were in a situation to where we could add to that. I think with where we were and what our game plan was, the tackle never fell for us as far as something we thought that there was a player there that could help us at that position.
“We still feel like we can be very competitive with the tackle situation that we have and the open competition. The best player is going to play.”
Wilkinson has been Denver’s top backup swing tackle/guard over the last two seasons. He filled in for an injured Ja’Wuan James at right tackle last year and allowed eight sacks in 15 games (12 starts), according to STATS LLC.
Bolles has been the Broncos’ left tackle since 2017 and he has struggled with holding penalties and inconsistent performances. If he doesn’t beat out Wilkinson for the left tackle job this offseason, Bolles will probably be nearing the end of his tenure in Denver.
[vertical-gallery id=638498]