Denver Broncos can’t let go of the first right tackle providing stability

The Denver Broncos signed Bobby Massie during the 2021 NFL offseason, and that cheap gamble paid off, as Massie has solidified the position.

When former Denver Broncos right tackle Ja’Wuan James tore his Achilles during the 2021 NFL offseason, General Manager George Paton signed both Bobby Massie and Cameron Fleming.

The two of those players had a battle with Calvin Anderson for the starting right tackle position.  Unsurprisingly, Bobby Massie easily won this contest, securing his spot in the starting lineup.

I don’t think many of us in Broncos Country had very high hopes for Massie.  He seemed like he’d be a temporary fix at the position, like Jared Veldheer and Demar Dotson were.

However, Massie, in my opinion, has exceeded expectations and should be re-signed by the team.

Even if the Broncos take a longer-term option in the draft, Massie’s performance this year should warrant at least one more year as a starter for the team.

Let’s look at some numbers.

Bobby Massie is 32 years old, so is not old by offensive lineman standards by any means.  Massie will turn 33 this coming summer.  He’s on his third team.  He began his career with the Arizona Cardinals and played 5 years for the Chicago Bears after that.

Massie is by no means perfect, as he missed 6 games in 2019 and 8 games in 2020.  He’s missed two games so far this season but will be back on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, I could argue that Massie has been our best offensive lineman this season.  According to Pro Football Reference, he’s been called for zero penalties this season.  No holdings, no false starts, no nothing.

Additionally, Massie has performed as a run and pass blocker.  Taking a look at this table, which breaks down pass and run block win rates among right tackles, being in the upper right quadrant is the most ideal spot.

The table shows the elite right tackles in the right quadrant, namely Lane Johnson, Braden Smith, Billy Turner, and Ryan Ramczyk.  Being in this quadrant means the player excels as both a run and pass blocker.

And would you look at that! Bobby Massie is right up there creeping into the right quadrant with the likes of the NFL’s elite at the position.  Massie appears to be a stronger pass blocker but also does well against the run.

Massie isn’t a young, sexy name like Ryan Ramczyk or Braden Smith, but he’s been a very dependable option for the Broncos, performing better at the position than we’ve seen in the recent past.

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If the Denver Broncos want to solidify their offensive line once and for all, they’ll still need to address the interior, but keeping Bobby Massie around for at least another season should be a no-brainer move for George Paton.

He’s good at what he does, and he won’t cost a fortune.