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2017 NFL Draft: AFC West first round recap and analysis

By Sayre Bedinger

Nov 5, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes (5) drops back to pass against the University of Texas Longhorns in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes (5) drops back to pass against the University of Texas Longhorns in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Garett Bolles (Utah) kisses his son Kingston Bolles as he is selected as the number 20 overall pick to the Denver Broncos in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Garett Bolles (Utah) kisses his son Kingston Bolles as he is selected as the number 20 overall pick to the Denver Broncos in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

45. . Offensive Tackle. Utah. Garett Bolles. 20. player

After a remarkably bad 2016 season, the Denver Broncos’ offensive line has been revamped. Garett Bolles may be 25 years old as a rookie, but he’s exactly the type of player the Broncos needed up front.

Denver’s new starting left tackle was the first offensive lineman off the board, which is a bit odd for any draft (at 20 overall) but in this year’s class, it made sense.

As good as Bolles was in his one season at Utah (played at Snow College and was JUCO All-American), there are questions about his overall core strength and ability to quickly transition to the next level.

For me, those questions won’t be enough of an issue that Bolles won’t excel even as a rookie. He is an elite athlete with great feet that can mirror in pass protection and put guys in the dirt in the running game. The Broncos needed an element of toughness on the offensive line after going the ‘finesse’ route with Gary Kubiak’s zone scheme, and this offseason, they brought in Ronald Leary and now Bolles.

There could be some extra curricular activities on the field at Broncos practices with these two guys playing to (or past…) the whistle.

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