Denver Broncos 2018 NFL Draft needs and offseason priorities

Right Tackle

Currently Under Contract

Garett Bolles
Cyrus Kouandjio
Elijah Wilkinson
Menelik Watson

The Broncos can’t justify the contract of Menelik Watson, so I don’t know how much longer he’ll be on this list.

The team also made a very shrewd move to give Cyrus Kouandjio a two-year contract with minimal risk for 2018, given he’s a former second round pick with ideal tackle measurables.

If the Broncos can coach Kouandjio up quickly, I am cautiously optimistic he can be part of the solution, at least as a very reasonably priced swing tackle for a season.

This position is a little more ‘iffy’ when it comes to players who are actually available. The 2018 NFL Draft class is fairly strong at tackle, but I don’t think as many players in the Broncos’ drafting range look like instant starters.

This class of rookies coming in is very talented, but certainly heavier in the upside department than the instant impact department. Connor Williams and Orlando Brown look to me like the players that could start right away at either tackle spot, as well as Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey.

There are another 8-10 guys that I think can develop into quality starters at either left or right tackle, and even more guys that could possibly play either tackle or guard at the next level.

The draft class is pretty deep on the offensive line, but the Broncos need a permanent fix here.

Free agency may lack for star power at the tackle position, but in terms of quality depth, it might be the right match for the Broncos this year.

Nate Solder is a player from the Patriots a lot of people are talking about, but I don’t know if his game necessarily translates to the type of offense the Broncos want to have. He’s also not been as effective in pass protection in recent years.

Rather than adding Solder to play left tackle and moving Garett Bolles to the right side, the Broncos could look to add Solder’s teammate in New England, free agent Cameron Fleming, a former fourth round pick out of Stanford that really has stepped up the past two years for the Patriots.

Fleming is an attractive free agent option, as is Miami’s Ja’Wuan James, though James will likely cost quite a bit more on the open market if he’s let go of his rookie deal in Miami (who needs the cap space).

The options for the Broncos at the right tackle position — including moving Garett Bolles over if they find a better option at left tackle — are pretty strong. More so in the draft than free agency, I would say, but there are decent options available in free agency I think starting with Cameron Fleming.