Denver Broncos: Right tackle job is Bobby Massie’s to lose
The Denver Broncos named a starting quarterback on Wednesday, so it’s understandable that Bobby Massie basically winning the RT job was overlooked.
It’s understandable that virtually no one is talking about it given the fact that the Denver Broncos’ 2021 quarterback battle just ended, but the other major competition for a starting position on this team was decided on Wednesday as well. After everyone in the media had their opportunities to ask questions about Drew Lock and the new starter, Teddy Bridgewater, the question about the starting right tackle position also came up.
Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio probably figured at that point, what the heck? Why not?
Fangio revealed during his session with the media that the starting right tackle for the preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams would be Bobby Massie and that the starting job was his to lose at this point.
After the Broncos lost Ja’Wuan James to a season-ending injury, Massie was the first free agent they signed to potentially replace him.
The training camp competition at the right tackle position centered mostly around Massie and Calvin Anderson, although at the beginning of camp, it was understood that another veteran — Cam Fleming –, as well as Quinn Bailey, would also be in the mix.
Those two didn’t really get much of an opportunity by comparison to Massie and Anderson, which is completely fine.
The coaching staff narrowed the options down to two guys at the beginning of camp, and it now stands to reason that Massie and Anderson will round out the top three tackles on the team.
Will the Broncos carry four tackles into the regular season?
I made the argument against them doing it on the 53-man roster in another post that was buried with Wednesday’s quarterback news.
With Massie at the starting right tackle spot and Calvin Anderson as the swing tackle, the Denver Broncos are almost in an ideal sort of situation there. It would have been great to see Anderson win the job and provide a possible future or long-term option for the team at right tackle, but Massie is a good player who has been in the league a long time.
He’s played well so far for the Broncos and coming over from the Chicago Bears (where they are having major tackle issues, by the way) he seems like quite the bargain at under $2.3 million against this year’s salary cap.
Massie is 32, so the Denver Broncos will have to take it year-to-year with him, but his inclusion in the starting lineup rounds out what looks like one of the best starting five groups the team has had in quite some time.
From left-to-right, here’s the Denver Broncos’ 2021 starting offensive line, barring Massie “losing” the job on Saturday against the Rams.
- LT: Garett Bolles
- LG: Dalton Risner
- C: Lloyd Cushenberry III
- RG: Graham Glasgow
- RT: Bobby Massie
The right side of the line will be crucial this year after a revolving door at both the right guard and right tackle positions over the last few years. The Denver Broncos have failed to identify long-term options at those two positions, but for the time being, it seems like the veterans Glasgow and Massie can effectively hold down the fort.
With the regular season approaching, competitions on the roster not only for starting jobs but for spots, in general, are starting to fill out.