Denver Broncos: Cameron Fleming adds necessary insurance at RT
The Denver Broncos are not going to find themselves in any sort of predicament at the right tackle position in 2021, and really on the offensive line in general.
The team signed veteran Bobby Massie, a longtime starter at right tackle for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, to a one-year deal worth $4 million after Ja’Wuan James suffered an Achilles injury working out.
Even after signing Massie, the Denver Broncos and new general manager George Paton decided that was not enough. They got another deal done with veteran Cameron Fleming for one year, $3.67 million.
The competition for the right tackle position is officially on.
Fleming started all 16 games for the New York Giants last year while Massie started eight games for the Bears and was not re-inserted into the lineup upon being designated for return off of injured reserve.
Fleming, for as much flak as he has taken from casual fans, looks pretty darn good on tape.
Listed at 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, Fleming is a massive tackle with solid length and very good core strength. Watching Fleming against TJ Watt (Steelers), Shaquil Barrett (Buccaneers), Demarcus Lawrence (Cowboys), and Montez Sweat/Chase Young (Washington), it’s clear that he is not nearly as bad as some “fanalysts” paint him to be.
Is he flawless? By no means, and no player is. There are reps when Fleming is caught lunging, or he can get beat with speed, but he does a tremendous job of keeping guys in front of him in pass protection and he definitely looks like he will provide a nice change of pace from what the Denver Broncos and their fans have seen at the right tackle position in the past however many years.
And even with all of that said, Fleming, who appears to present an upgrade for what the Denver Broncos previously had, is not guaranteed to even be the starter. In fact, that job would seem to be Bobby Massie’s to lose based on his history in the league as well as the fact that he’s got a slightly bigger contract (and was signed first).
Are either of these players Orlando Brown Jr. or Ryan Ramczyk out there? No, but they are veteran players with experience and they play at the very least at a league-average level at the position. When it comes to the offensive line play as a whole and the right tackle position not being a weak link, that is the huge value that a guy like Fleming is bringing in addition to Massie.
Having that kind of insurance at the tackle position is hugely beneficial to the Broncos who have trotted out some pretty patchwork groups in recent years. Now, they have legitimately at least seven or eight NFL-caliber starters on the offensive line and guys with upside beyond that.
Mike Munchak is obviously known for being one of the best developers and maximizers of talent on the offensive line and he has one of the best groups the Denver Broncos have had frankly in a very long time.