After a successful NFL draft, the Denver Broncos have started their virtual offseason program. The Broncos are hopeful that they will be able to start training camp in late July. Here are three questions Denver will face as they approach training camp later this summer.
1. Will Garett Bolles hold back the offensive line?
From right to left, the Broncos’ projected offensive line is Ja’Wuan James, Graham Glasglow, Lloyd Cushenberry, Dalton Risner and the wildly unpopular Garett Bolles. Ask any fan in Denver if there’s a weak link on offense and they’ll answer Bolles. He has averaged almost one penalty per game in his career and hasn’t lived up to his 2017 first-round draft status. The Broncos didn’t add any tackles in the draft despite GM John Elway describing the position as an area where the team has “to get better.” This offseason, Bolles will compete with Elijah Wilkinson, a backup swing guard/tackle, for the starting left tackle job. Wilkinson spent time at right tackle last year as an injury fill-in for James, but he’s probably best-suited to play as a guard so Bolles might have an advantage. Elway is optimistic that a satisfactory starter will emerge from the competition. “We still feel like we can be very competitive with the tackle situation that we have and the open competition,” Elway said. “The best player is going to play.”
2. Who will replace Chris Harris at cornerback?
After starting his career with four Pro Bowl nods, 20 interceptions and a Super Bowl win in Denver, Chris Harris left the Broncos to sign a two-year, $17 million contract with the Chargers during free agency. It won’t be easy to replace Harris, who had been one of the team’s best cornerbacks for nine seasons. Denver traded a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars in exchange for A.J. Bouye in March but there aren’t many proven options behind him on the depth chart. Bryce Callahan signed with the Broncos last spring and missed all of the 2019 season with a foot injury. Callahan was an excellent cornerback with the Bears but there’s no guarantee that he will return to his old form once he returns from injury. Denver used a third-round pick on Michael Ojemudia but Vic Fangio probably wouldn’t prefer to start a rookie. De’Vante Bausby and Duke Dawson had stretches of strong play last year but neither of them will command respect from an offense like Harris did. Despite uncertainty at the position, Fangio said he felt good about the team’s depth at cornerback after the draft: “We’ll have a good group to play with.” If Callahan stays healthy, he will be the favorite to start across from Bouye.
3. Will Drew Lock take advantage of being set up for success?
After going 4-1 as a starter last season, Lock earned the trust of the Broncos’ brass. To help the young QB succeed in his first full season as a starter, Elway set out this offseason to surround Lock with talent. On paper, it sure looks like he accomplished that goal. Denver signed Glasgow, one of the top guards in free agency, and drafted Cushenberry in the third round to shore up the offensive line. The Broncos also added Melvin Gordon, pairing him with fellow Pro Bowl RB Phillip Lindsay to give the offense a formidable rushing attack. Perhaps most notably, Elway selected WRs Jerry Jeudy (4.53 40-yard dash) and KJ Hamler (4.3) in the first two rounds of the draft. Then, as if all that wasn’t enough, Elway added one of Lock’s favorite targets in college — TE Albert Okwuegbunam (4.49) — in the fourth round. Adding those speedy receivers to an offense that already includes Pro Bowl WR Courtland Sutton and TE Noah Fant gives Lock no excuses. “I felt that offensively, for us to be able to compete and give Drew a chance to be successful … we had to get some speed and we had to get some talent on that offensive side and some explosiveness,” Elway said. Lock needs to prove that Denver made the right decision to fully commit to him, opting to pass on Cam Newton and Jameis Winston during free agency. If Lock struggles in Year 2, it won’t be because his supporting cast let him down.
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