Internal Options
The Broncos may not have great internal options to replace Ja’Wuan James, but they do have some options.
The top option and right now the most likely option is that James is replaced by Elijah Wilkinson.
Wilkinson was an undrafted free agent out of UMass in 2017 and became a starter for the Broncos at both right guard and right tackle with injuries suffered by former big-money free agents Ron Leary and Ja’Wuan James, respectively.
Wilkinson has not had a ton of success as a pass protector with some heavy feet, and he’s coming into a tough situation at training camp with foot surgery landing him on the PUP list to open the Broncos’ only on-field OTAs so far in 2020.
Even though Wilkinson is expected to be healthy by the time the Broncos put the pads on in mid-August, he’s currently still working his way back. If the team lined up an offensive line today, the top option at right tackle might be Jake Rodgers, a reserve/future player who signed last year and seemingly struggled badly in preseason play before making the final roster.
The Broncos also seem to like Calvin Anderson, an undrafted free agent in 2019 who was poached off the New York Jets’ practice squad. Anderson spent part of his college career with Rice and the final year with the Texas Longhorns.
The Broncos didn’t play him at all last season, but he’s got the athleticism and physical upside to be a starting-caliber player at the NFL level, either on the left side or the right.
Quinn Bailey is another former UDFA who spent the majority of the 2019 season on the practice squad. He was called up for one game at the end of the year, so it’s safe to say the Broncos have a positive future outlook for him as well.