The Broncos offensive line is full of continuity and ranks among the best in the entire NFL

The Broncos offensive line is full of continuity and ranks as one of best units in the NFL.

The Denver Broncos‘ offensive line has gone from being a weakness to being a strength of this team. Head Coach Sean Payton put an emphasis on improving the line play when he was hired, and three years later, we are seeing the benefits of that.

Not only has the Broncos’ offensive line graded out among the best in the league the past two seasons, but they have continuity throughout the unit. Four of the five starting offensive linemen will be entering their third season together, and all five starters from last season will be returning this year. On top of that, many of their key reserves will be returning as well, along with a few intriguing undrafted free agents added to the mix.

This line features longtime left tackle Garett Bolles, who recently signed an extension with the team, All-Pro guard Quinn Meinerz, who is arguably the best guard in the league, and right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who has solved the Broncos’ right tackle problem.

With all that said, let’s take a look at the Broncos’ offensive line and their roles, expectations, and chances of making the team as we approach the start of training camp.

Starters

Left Tackle – Garett Bolles

The Broncos’ longtime left tackle returns for his 9th season with the team and his second as Bo Nix’s blindside blocker. While Bolles has received criticism throughout his time with the Broncos, mostly for his holding calls, he has become a solid overall left tackle. He rarely misses games, kept Nix clean last season, and has cut down on the number of holding calls called against him.

Bolles signed a four-year $82 million dollar extension with the Broncos in December so he will be starting left tackle for the foreseeable future.

Left Guard – Ben Powers

Powers is entering the third year of his four-year deal with the Broncos and has been a solid left guard for them during his time with the team. He has been a key and consistent member of the offensive line and has appeared in all 17 games for the Broncos the past two seasons.

He will look to continue his solid play for the Broncos this upcoming season and hopefully be a consistent member of their offensive line once again this year.

Center – Luke Wattenberg

Wattenberg won the center competition last season for the Broncos and filled the void left behind by Lloyd Cushenberry, who signed with the Titans during free agency. He did miss a few weeks due to injury, but when he was on the field, he played rather well. We did see him struggle against more powerful linemen in the run game, but overall, he played well.

Now, he will enter the final year of his rookie deal and look to earn himself some money in free agency next year.

Right Guard – Quinn Meinerz

The Belly earned First-Team All-Pro honors last season and is arguably one of the best offensive linemen in the league. He keeps defenders off quarterback Bo Nix, is a mauler in the run game, and pancakes defenders in the open field.

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post

He is the Broncos’ best offensive lineman and one of the key members on their offense. Look for running backs RJ Harvey and JK Dobbins to run behind Meinerz, who will be opening run lanes for the Broncos’ talented backs.

Right Tackle – Mike McGlinchey

The Broncos signed McGlinchey back in 2023 and finally solved their longtime question at right tackle. While he has not been perfect, he has stabilized the position and has been a key member of the Broncos’ top-ranked offensive line. He is a mauler in the run game who occasionally has issues with speed rushers, but overall, has been a solid right tackle for the Broncos.

He has only missed a total of 5 games the past two seasons for the Broncos and will look to be a consistent force for them once again this season. I believe he looked better as a pass blocker last season (Bo Nix effect), so hopefully, we see that again this upcoming season.

Notable Backups

Swing Tackle – Matt Peart

Peart signed with the Broncos last season and served as a reliable swing tackle who filled in at times at both tackle spots and played fairly well. This earned him a two-year deal from the team during the offseason, and now he is likely locked into the Broncos’ swing tackle role for this upcoming season.

I would consider him a roster lock at this point, even if Frank Crum and others show promise during the summer. Need to have a reliable swing tackle, and it appears Peart has earned the Broncos’ trust to be the guy for that role.

Guard/Tackle – Alex Palczewski

After showing some promise as a rookie in 2023, Palczewski made the Broncos roster and became a key reserve along the offensive line. He filled in for Mike McGlinchey at right tackle and played well while also seeing some time at guard. This versatility likely locks him into a roster spot on the Broncos, and he will fill the same role that he had last season.

Having a reserve like Palczewski is important because he can fill multiple roles if needed. Injuries happen, and if you need him at guard, he can play there, and if you need him at tackle, he can do that, too. Versatility is nice, but he has also proved he can hold his own out there and not be a liability.

Developmental Upside – Frank Crum

Frank Crum has the size, length, tools, and athleticism you look for in an offensive tackle; he just needs development. Due to this upside and the team not wanting him to hit the waiver wire, Crum made the 53-man roster and continued his development with the team throughout the year. Now, he has to continue to show growth and development if he wants to make the team.

I wouldn’t call Crum a lock at this point, but it seems like it would be a surprise if he did not make the team. They have invested in him and clearly think they can develop him into a contributor in the future. It will be an important summer for Crum, and we will see if he will once again make the Broncos’ 53-man roster.

Fighting For A Roster Spot

Center – Alex Forsyth

The former seventh-round pick competed for the starting center job last season but lost the competition to Luke Wattenberg. He would then shift into a center/guard reserve role, but did start four games at center while Wattenberg was injured. Unfortunately for Forsyth, nobody really remembers that and only remembers him getting knocked on his ass at Arrowhead and allowing the Chiefs to block the Broncos game-winning field goal attempt.

While he seems like the favorite to be the backup center, he will likely face competition for that role from inside and outside the organization.

Guard – Calvin Throckmorton

The veteran reserve spent time with Payton with the Saints and then signed with the Broncos last season. He appeared in two games for the team last season and is now pushing for a spot on the Broncos roster.

He has the familiarity with Payton going for him, but the soon-to-be 29-year-old is unlikely to make the 53-man roster and faces competition for a spot on the Broncos’ practice squad. He will need a strong summer if he wants to stick around on the Broncos roster this upcoming season.

Guard – Nick Gargiulo

The 2024 7th-round pick spent the entire season on the Broncos’ practice squad last season and will now look to push for a roster spot. We did not see much from him last season, so it is hard to project what he will do this season, but he is probably currently on the outside looking in when it comes to making the team.

If he has a strong summer and shows some versatility, maybe he can push for a guard/center role, but we will have to see. A spot on the practice squad seems like the most likely scenario for Gargiulo if he were to stick around on the Broncos roster.

Tackle – Marques Cox

The undrafted rookie out of Kentucky will look to push Frank Crum for a spot on the Broncos’ 53-man roster. He started 59 career games in college, so he will not be lacking in experience as he pushes for a roster spot.

Ultimately, he seems more likely to land on the Broncos’ practice squad, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get some looks inside as well.

Guard/Center – Clay Webb

The former Georgia recruit who transferred to Jacksonville State and went undrafted due to some since resolved off-the-field stuff might have the best odds of any Broncos UDFA to make the team. If it were not for the off-the-field stuff, Webb likely would have been drafted, but ultimately signed as an undrafted free agent with the Broncos.

He was a top-rated center prospect coming out of high school, but played guard in college. With the Broncos, we will likely see him at center more, especially due to his size, and push Alex Forsyth for a roster spot. I would consider him a lock for the practice squad if he did not make the 53-man roster.

Center/Guard – Joe Michalski

The former Oklahoma State undrafted rookie Joe Michalski signed with the Broncos and will compete with Alex Forsyth and Clay Webb for the backup center role. He is an undersized but athletic center who will need to prove that he has the strength to hold up against NFL linemen.

Like Webb, he has the potential to push for a spot on the 53-man roster and seems like a strong candidate to make the practice squad at least.

Tackle/Guard – Xavier Truss

Truss is another undrafted free agent that could push for a spot on the Broncos’ 53-man roster. The former Georgia offensive lineman has excellent size, experience and offers versatility as well. He played tackle but also shifted inside to play guard for the Bulldogs in college. This versatility will help him stick around with the Broncos moving forward.

He joins Webb, Michalski, and Cox as intriguing undrafted rookies who could push for backup jobs along the Broncos’ offensive line. I probably see Truss sticking around on the Broncos’ practice squad and eventually becoming an Alex Palczewski-type player who can play inside and outside for the Broncos.

Guard – Will Sherman

The veteran offensive lineman hasn’t played much for the Broncos but has been with the team since 2022. The former Colorado offensive lineman has spent time on the Broncos’ practice squad from 2022 through the 2024 season. He was once again signed to a reserve/future contract this offseason and will look to land on the Broncos’ practice squad once again.

He must have a fan inside the organization, so until proven otherwise, you have to anticipate Sherman being on the Broncos’ practice squad once again this season. However, he will face some stiff competition for that spot from the Broncos’ undrafted rookie offensive linemen.

Final Thoughts

Outside of maybe one or two spots, the Broncos’ offensive line seems set in stone, barring any injuries. You have your starting five for a second straight year and four of the five for a third straight year. On top of that, you have key reserves Matt Peart and Alex Palczewski likely locked into roster spots, with Frank Crum a favorite to make the team as well. That leaves maybe one or two spots for the rest to compete for.

I believe the main competition will be for the backup center/guard role that was held by Alex Forsyth last season. Forsyth, along with Webb and Michalski, should be the main players for that job. I think we will see three if not all four, of the Broncos UDFA linemen to make the practice squad, with maybe one of them making the 53-man roster.

Overall, I am happy with all five starters along the offensive line, I like the backups, and I enjoy the continuity Sean Payton and the Broncos have built at this position. We saw a bunch of turnover each year previously, so this is nice to see.