Denver Broncos: Way too early 2021 mock draft predictions

2. Jackson Carman, LT, Clemson

The Broncos’ need at left tackle is not much of a mystery at this point.

2017 first-round pick Garett Bolles has failed to live up to first-round expectations, and the Broncos have taken one step towards potentially moving on after the 2020 season.

The team declined Bolles’ fifth-year contract option and put it out there that Bolles would be competing with Elijah Wilkinson for his starting job in 2020.

Most expect Bolles to win that battle easily after watching Wilkinson struggle at right tackle last season, but you never know what could happen.

Jackson Carman is a former five-star recruit with great size at 6-foot-5, 345 pounds and nimble feet along with a nasty streak at the tackle position.

The only thing that doesn’t necessarily scream ‘Bronco’ here is the fact that entering the 2020 season, Carman will have only started 12 games. We know how much the Broncos love their ‘veteran’ college players lately, especially guys who were voted team captains.

But it speaks to Carman’s abilities that Clemson is trusting him with protecting the blind side of Trevor Lawrence, perhaps the most valuable player in all of college football.

He would be a high-upside selection in the 2021 NFL Draft and someone who would be counted on to likely step in and start for the Broncos.