No quality depth at Offensive Tackle

[mark222b]

The current best available tackle for rotation or injury backup is Cameron Fleming.
I really think we need a veteran behind Bolles coming off an injury and McGlinchey.
Fleming has played both positions and would probably take a 1 or 2-year deal.

[JvDub95]

Agreed but the problem is snd always will be money in a capped league. We have a LOT of money wrapped up on the line. My guess is we'll draft a kid late or even find some undrafted players to help with depth

[samparnell]

Agreed but the problem is snd always will be money in a capped league. We have a LOT of money wrapped up on the line. My guess is we'll draft a kid late or even find some undrafted players to help with depth

A Swing Tackle will be needed and may be found among some of the guys they already have, or they'll sign a free agent. At least fifteen O-Linemen will be needed for TC. One will probably be drafted, maybe a Center. New names will emerge.

[JvDub95]

A Swing Tackle will be needed and may be found among some of the guys they already have, or they'll sign a free agent. At least fifteen O-Linemen will be needed for TC. One will probably be drafted, maybe a Center. New names will emerge.

There's rumors Broncos and CJGJ are mutually interested. If Denver does sign him (baring some restructures or trades) that'll be it until the draft. Broncos have enough cap left for one more quality starter or a couple middle of the road guys. Either way we're almost done seeing the free agent signings

[Hadez]

A Swing Tackle will be needed and may be found among some of the guys they already have, or they'll sign a free agent. At least fifteen O-Linemen will be needed for TC. One will probably be drafted, maybe a Center. New names will emerge.

Sam you been talking about the need for a swing tackle for years. You are a big reason I am even aware of the need.


To the OP I get it is a need but tbh a week ago we did not even have a RT much less a swing tackle. This is how we came into the league year.

I am honestly shocked we have plugged so many holes we had with quality players I am sure some of it is the money but I think players do want to play with SP and maybe even RW

[sra84]

Part of the depth issue is not investing any draft capital in the position. Bolles is the last OT we drafted who was intended on being an OT.

Since picking Bolles we have drafted only 5 OL: Sam Jones in 2018, Risner in 2019, Cushenberry and Muti in 2020, Meinerz in 2021 and Wattenberg last year. All guards or centers. That's it.

This is an issue that started under Elway and continued under Paton.

And now this is why we are in this situation.

[samparnell]

There's rumors Broncos and CJGJ are mutually interested. If Denver does sign him (baring some restructures or trades) that'll be it until the draft. Broncos have enough cap left for one more quality starter or a couple middle of the road guys. Either way we're almost done seeing the free agent signings

Well, that's the way it seems based on information available, but how the structure of the new contracts affects the cap isn't completely clear depending on the amounts of the bonuses. Also, in the event a player(s) get traded, that will affect the cap creating some additional space. Given the financial resources of the new owners and the creativity of cap specialists, moves might still be made.

[JSwint22]

I wouldn’t mind both our 3rd rounders to go to OT
Would be nice to not worry about olineman for a few seasons

[samparnell]

Sam you been talking about the need for a swing tackle for years. You are a big reason I am even aware of the need.


To the OP I get it is a need but tbh a week ago we did not even have a RT much less a swing tackle. This is how we came into the league year.

I am honestly shocked we have plugged so many holes we had with quality players I am sure some of it is the money but I think players do want to play with SP and maybe even RW

Seems like the smallest number of O-Linemen on an NFL roster is eight. The most I've ever heard of is ten, and nine is probably average. On Game Day at least seven O-Linemen are active; five starters and an inside depth guy and the Swing Tackle. NFL gives benefits in the event a team activates eight on game day which would be all of them for some teams.

Wattenberg and Bailey have some game snaps. Bailey is listed as a T, but don't know if the new staff would be comfortable with him as Swing Tackle. He has also played inside.

Including PS there must be at least ten O-Linemen available for weekly practice. Between the roster and the PS a total of twelve wouldn't be unusual. Bolles is returning from injury, so that needs to be monitored.

I'm thinking Denver will draft an O-Lineman and will probably bring in several UDFAs so that they have at least fifteen for TC.

[samparnell]

Part of the depth issue is not investing any draft capital in the position. Bolles is the last OT we drafted who was intended on being an OT.

Since picking Bolles we have drafted only 5 OL: Sam Jones in 2018, Risner in 2019, Cushenberry and Muti in 2020, Meinerz in 2021 and Wattenberg last year. All guards or centers. That's it.

This is an issue that started under Elway and continued under Paton.

And now this is why we are in this situation.

Dalton Risner was All Big XII Right Tackle at K-State for several years and was All-American RT his last year. He played Center his first year. He had never played G until he was drafted by Denver. It's sort of a mystery why he was never tried at RT in a game. Up until last year Dalton was coached by Mike Munchak, so I'd defer to his judgement. Kind of expected him to be a RT for Denver eventually. Some college Tackles start off as Guards and then move outside later, like Dave Diehl. Dalton always looked like a Tackle playing Guard to me.

A move in the opposite direction was 2014 when Orlando Franklin was moved from RT to LG so that Chris Clark could start at RT. Clark was benched halfway though the season, but Orlando did great. Somehow I never thought that was Dave Magazu's idea. One wonders about Munchak and Risner, too.

[MHSalute]

I thought maybe we drafted Wattenberg to groom as a LT. As a center it seemed like a big reach, but given his reach and athletism maybe LT was going to be a better position for him. I still have concerns with the center position more so than our swing OT.

[samparnell]

I thought maybe we drafted Wattenberg to groom as a LT. As a center it seemed like a big reach, but given his reach and athletism maybe LT was going to be a better position for him. I still have concerns with the center position more so than our swing OT.

Had not heard that before. Had thought it had been stated that he was intended as an inside guy. Who the starting Center is certainly a higher priority than Swing Tackle. We will just need to wait and see what the new staff thinks of Cushenberry and Wattenberg. Wouldn't be surprised to see Denver draft a C.

[brianmcfarlane]

Currently there are 4 OT's and 2 OL listed on the roster... Will Sherman is one of the OL at 6'4" 300lbs - maybe a possibility at OT? I thought he was listed as an OT last season, might be wrong? He did play both RT and LT at CU but at 6'4" he might not have ideal height to play OT in the NFL. Quinn Bailey is still an ERFA, I expect they will sign him for, at least depth.
Cameron Fleming being cheap should be signed, he did have a decent rating from last season and they might not have to rely on him being a swing tackle.

[mark222b]

1. Our current roster has only practice squad offensive tackles on it.
2. Cameron Fleming is showing (according to ESPN and PFF) a market value between 2.5 - 3.5M/yr. (very affordable)
3. Pro Football Focus graded Fleming (76.2) higher than McGlinchey (71.5) overall last year in 2022.

I believe we should grab Fleming for a veteran swing tackle before another team does
and then draft another offensive tackle with a draft pick to develop over a couple of years.

[sra84]

Dalton Risner was All Big XII Right Tackle at K-State for several years and was All-American RT his last year. He played Center his first year. He had never played G until he was drafted by Denver. It's sort of a mystery why he was never tried at RT in a game. Up until last year Dalton was coached by Mike Munchak, so I'd defer to his judgement. Kind of expected him to be a RT for Denver eventually. Some college Tackles start off as Guards and then move outside later, like Dave Diehl. Dalton always looked like a Tackle playing Guard to me.

A move in the opposite direction was 2014 when Orlando Franklin was moved from RT to LG so that Chris Clark could start at RT. Clark was benched halfway though the season, but Orlando did great. Somehow I never thought that was Dave Magazu's idea. One wonders about Munchak and Risner, too.

I do remember Risner was a RT but the plan was to have him play guard from the start since they had signed Ju'wan James, which is why I included him in the list.

I also agree that I don't understand why they didn't at least try him at RT at some point, especially since he was struggling at LG, and our RT options were not good and/or injured.