Projecting Denver Broncos offensive line for the 2022 season

The Denver Broncos have made a few movements in free agency along their offensive line. What will this unit look like as we head into 2022?

The Denver Broncos have added to their offensive line this offseason, re-signing Calvin Anderson, signing Billy Turner and signing Tom Compton.

If nothing else, Denver has excellent depth with this unit, but which 5 will start and at which positions?

What Denver has to their benefit is that a few of these players have played multiple positions.

Graham Glasgow has played every position along the interior, Quinn Meinerz has played guard and center, Billy Turner has played guard and tackle, and Tom Compton has played both guard and tackle.

Broncos insider and host of Broncos Country Tonight, Ben Allbright, gave us his own take on the offensive line during Thursday’s show.

He believes that Calvin Anderson probably wins the right tackle job, Dalton Risner sticks at center, and Graham Glasgow could slide in as the starting center.

We won’t know the starting lineup until much later in the offseason, obviously, but why not take a shot at predicting the starting lineup for the offensive line this season?

Denver Broncos left tackle – Garett Bolles

The only position along the offensive line that is about guaranteed is left tackle, which will be manned by Garett Bolles for the 6th straight season.

In 2020, Bolles made the second-team All-Pro, cementing himself as one of the top tackles in the NFL.

He regressed a bit in 2021 but was still very solid.

Garett Bolles isn’t going anywhere. He is Denver’s left tackle. Hopefully, he can get back to his 2020 form, which would make Russell Wilson’s life so much easier.

Denver Broncos left guard – Billy Turner

Billy Turner has played both guard and tackle and has excelled at both. In this scenario, Turner slides into the left guard spot, replacing Dalton Risner, who is set to enter the final year of his rookie deal.

Turner is simply the better player, and I think Denver is going to play the 5 best players, no matter what.

Turner played left guard for Denver in 2018 before signing with the Packers, where he got to play in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense.

I would be surprised if Turner does not crack the starting lineup in some way, even if it’s at right tackle.

Dalton Risner has been fine at guard, but he’s regressed a bit since his rookie campaign. I think Turner ends up taking his place in the starting lineup.

Denver Broncos center – Graham Glasgow

Graham Glasgow’s best season came in 2018, where he started all 16 games for the Lions at center.

That year, he played 100 percent of the offensive snaps, logging over 1,000, committed 9 penalties, but only allowed 1 sack.

Glasgow was brought back to Denver on a re-worked contract, which signals to me how big of a year this is for him.

Since I think Turner takes over at left guard, and another good player remains at right guard, the next logical spot is center.

Glasgow is probably one of the best 5 linemen currently on the roster, and given that his best football came at center, it only makes sense.

One of the only downsides to this is that Russell Wilson is a shorter quarterback, and Glasgow is 6-foot-6, which is tall, even for a tackle, but if he is the best for the position, he’ll play.

Perhaps this would then make Lloyd Cushenberry expendable for the Denver Broncos.

They could look to trade him in this scenario.

Denver Broncos right guard – Quinn Meinerz

Quinn Meinerz filled in very well for the injured Graham Glasgow last year, and I have no reason to think he does not stick there.

It does sometimes take offensive linemen a few years to hit their stride, but I think with Meinerz and his athleticism, he can take a big leap forward in year 2.

He also plays with a nasty edge, which is a huge bonus.

I think the Denver Broncos found a mainstay along their offensive line for years to come.

I do not anticipate Meinerz vacating the right guard spot for any reason. Perhaps he may have to fill in at the 2 other interior positions at some point, but his home is at right guard.

Denver Broncos right tackle – Calvin Anderson

So I have no basis in picking Anderson to win this job outside of Ben Allbright predicting it. I trust his judgment. He made this prediction during hour 2 of Broncos Country Tonight.

Why can’t Calvin Anderson win the job? I have been critical of him, though–I think his social media habits don’t match up with his on-the-field production–he’s been a backup his career thus far, but perhaps he could crack the starting lineup.

Calvin Anderson is a heck of an athlete, so he’ll fit the system well. His main competition should be veteran journeyman Tom Compton, so we should expect him to win this job, right?

Since Billy Turner starts at left guard in this scenario, Anderson may only have to worry about Compton.

However, I do think George Paton drafts a right tackle at some point, but for 2021, at least, Anderson should probably win the starting job.

So, the projected offensive line looks like:

• LT – Garett Bolles
• LG – Billy Turner
• C – Graham Glasgow
• RG – Quinn Meinerz
• RT – Calvin Anderson