Denver Broncos Start Minicamp on Wednesday

Can you smell Denver Broncos football back in the air already in late May?

That’s right, the team will re-assemble at Dove Valley on Wednesday for phase three of OTAs, where they can do some 11-on-11 work for the first time this offseason.

Mike Klis took a look at seven questions entering camp.

The best question to ask at this point for me is what in the world are the Broncos going to do on the offensive line? Collectively as the fan base, we’ve explored seemingly every possible option. The most likely option (for now) seems to be Ryan Clady at left tackle, Shelley Smith or Ben Garland at left guard, Gino Gradkowski at center, Louis Vasquez at right guard, and Chris Clark at right tackle.

That’s obviously going to be subject to change.

The Broncos drafted Michael Schofield (RT/LG) in the third round of last year’s NFL Draft out of Michigan. They drafted Ty Sambrailo (RT/LG) out of Colorado State in the second round of this year’s draft. They drafted Max Garcia (C/G) in the fourth round of this year’s draft.

The expectation with where those guys were drafted and what coaches have said is that they can play, and sooner rather than later.

I would — personally — like to see all three of them in the lineup in some capacity, but I really also like the idea of Ben Garland playing left guard and sort of reaching the pinnacle of the journey he’s been on in the NFL since 2009. Seeing him in the opening day starting lineup would be something not even Hollywood could write on its own.

At any rate, the only certainties on the Broncos’ offensive line are at left tackle and right guard. Aside from that, there are question marks.

The other question that I really liked of Klis’ was what Cody Latimer would look like in place of Demaryius Thomas. Sadly for many Broncos fans, this could be a glimpse into the future at the position, meaning Latimer without Thomas. Eventually this year, the Broncos want to get Latimer with Thomas.

At this point in time, that’s not happening, so Latimer is going to see no. 2 duties alongside Emmanuel Sanders, who becomes Manning’s leading returning receiver.

Klis also asked which players we might see at inside linebacker in place of the healing Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall. The Broncos’ ‘Bash Brothers’.

The Broncos have seven legit inside linebackers who can/have played in this league. Last year, the guys who saw the most snaps in this defense were Corey Nelson and Todd Davis, rookies who were late round/UDFA guys in the 2014 NFL Draft. Lamin Barrow came into Denver in the fifth round of last year’s draft with pretty high expectations given his draft slotting, but he’s also out there with Reggie Walker, who was brought in as a special teams guy from San Diego.

Steven Johnson was also re-signed this offseason, and could have seniority if the Broncos choose to start there at OTAs.

The Broncos also signed UDFA Zaire Anderson, who has range and is a sure tackler. He’s a sleeper to crack the final roster depending how many LBs the Broncos choose to keep.

Let the fun begin.

Next: Brandon Marshall, Von Miller Don't Miss Tackles