Denver Broncos: Elijah Wilkinson is not taking Garett Bolles’ job
Despite his struggles in the first three years of his career, Garett Bolles should be the starting left tackle for the Denver Broncos in 2020.
That is likely difficult to hear for many Broncos fans. It’s hard to support a guy who has drawn so many penalties against him. These penalties have crippled offensive drives and damaged Garett Bolles‘ reputation.
It is to the point that if there is a flag on the field, you can almost bet it’s going against No. 72.
That has led to plenty of speculation that Elijah Wilkinson could replace Bolles as the team’s starting left tackle. Reportedly, Wilkinson has been told there will be an open competition for that job this summer.
The Broncos also declined Bolles’ fifth-year option earlier this summer, adding fuel to the fire that the team could move on from him.
Undrafted out of Massachusetts in 2017, Wilkinson has never been a starter for the Broncos despite being on the team as long as Bolles. Sure, he has made spot starts due to players being injured, but he is a reserve who can play guard or tackle. He’s a perfect swing tackle off the bench.
Why is he now suddenly good enough to be the team’s starter? Perhaps there is more to this story than the initial reports suggest.
Those who favor Wilkinson will point to things such as his consistency and the fact that Mike Munchak really likes him. Is that to suggest that Munchak doesn’t like Bolles?
Despite a slew of penalties throughout his career, there is no denying that Bolles played much better in the five starts that Drew Lock, a much more athletic and mobile quarterback than the Broncos have had in some time, made toward the end of last season.
Lock’s ability to escape the pocket as well as his quick decision making was far different than the drop-back, statuesque style of the guy before him, Joe Flacco.
Bolles is a much more athletic player than Wilkinson and he should be motivated to keep his starting job. Motivation is a key word when it comes to Bolles.
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The Broncos chose not to give Bolles his fifth-year option and they have made this announcement that he will be battling Wilkinson for the job in training camp. Perhaps both of those moves were done for a reason other than what one would immediately think.
Perhaps those decisions were made in order to create a fire inside Bolles, a player who still has plenty of untapped potential.
Maybe the team didn’t draft a tackle or sign one in free agency as a way to build confidence in Bolles as well. Is it possible that the Broncos just want to motivate their former first-round pick to strive to be the best he can be in 2020?
Of course it is.
Whether that plan will work or not remains to be seen, but expect Bolles to be playing with a huge chip on his shoulder this summer. There is also the belief that the Broncos could still be in line to bring in Jason Peters. The Broncos should let another team sign the aging veteran.
Wilkinson is a good reserve player who can help out in a pinch. But Bolles is the starter, and he’s going to keep the job.