Eight-year veteran offensive tackle Garett Bolles will be a free agent at the end of the 2024 season, and a recent report indicates he could be in his final season with the Denver Broncos. A first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Utah product has been one of the few consistent offensive pieces in the post-Manning Era. Starting at least 14 games in six of his first seven seasons, Bolles has consistently protected an endless run of quarterbacks, landing a $68 million extension in 2020 while earning Second-Team All-Pro honors.
Unfortunately, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says the offensive tackle will play out the final year of his contract. While this doesn’t mean he won’t re-sign with the Denver Broncos as a free agent, Garett Bolles will look around and see what other teams offer. Despite his age, Bolles remains a productive player with the 14th-best PFF grade among eligible tackles, and desperate teams like the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, or Jacksonville Jaguars could go after him.
Garett Bolles Could Leave Broncos As A Free Agent – 3 Suitors Emerge
On paper, the New Orleans Saints do not have the cap space to sign Garett Bolles as a free agent. As of this posting, New Orleans is projected to be a staggering $63.7 million over the 2025 salary cap, which should impact their ability to go after a big-name player like Bolles. However, nobody manipulates the salary cap better than New Orleans, so if they want to bolster their offensive line, they’ll find a way to get it done. General Manager Mickey Loomis said the team will not change their organizational philosophy in 2025, so look for another round of restructures in the coming months.
Whether it’s Derek Carr or an upstart rookie, the Saints must do something to improve their offensive line. First-round pick Taliese Fuaga has shown promise through his rookie season, but right tackle Trevor Penning is an active liability. With the injured Ryan Ramczyk unlikely to be part of the picture, New Orleans must find another starting-caliber tackle. Bolles is primarily a left tackle, so the Saints could put him at his natural position and flip Fuaga to his native right tackle for the 2025 season.
Other Fits
The New England Patriots have their quarterback of the future in Drake Maye. Now, they must ensure he doesn’t die behind the abysmal offensive line. Mike Onwenu is the only starting-caliber player on the current offensive line, and the Patriots aren’t getting the most out of him by forcing him to switch positions every week. Vederian Lowe showed some improvement after a disastrous 2023, but he’s not the type of guy who stops you from pursuing a free agent like Garett Bolles. Solidifying the blind side and adding interior help with someone like Kansas City’s Trey Smith could have Maye in the MVP race at this point next year.
No matter what happens with Doug Pederson, the Jacksonville Jaguars must fix their offensive line. With Cam Robinson now on the Minnesota Vikings, the Jaguars top priority should be finding someone capable of protecting Trevor Lawrence. Garett Bolles will probably be the best option on the free agent market, and the Jaguars have the money to land a player of his caliber. While he won’t fix everything with this team, improving the blocking is the first step to getting the most out of a roster that is more talented than their record suggests.
Main Photo: Ron Chenoy – USA Today Sports
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