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Denver Broncos: 5 moves the Broncos must make to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs

By Chandler Hyler

ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 06: New Denver Broncos Coach Sean Payton addresses the media during a press conference at UCHealth Training Center on February 06, 2023 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 06: New Denver Broncos Coach Sean Payton addresses the media during a press conference at UCHealth Training Center on February 06, 2023 in Englewood, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Ethan Pocic
Jan 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) changes the play at the line of scrimmage as he awaits the snap from center Ethan Pocic (55) against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Two new quality starting offensive linemen for the Denver Broncos

Getting better in protection and aggression is a goal for Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos in 2023. There is a need at more than just one position for the Broncos. Filling two in free agency, and looking a the draft to fill the others would be wise.

Infusing youth along with veterans who know how to play the game at the professional level is important for the right now and the future. Ethan Pocic, a former teammate of Russell Wilson could come in and take over at center.

Lloyd Cushenberry III just hasn’t worked out for the Broncos. Year three is a solid gauge to determine where a player is and will end up in his career, Cushenberry III has yet to show anything desirable.

At the point of attack, the Broncos have been getting bullied for season, ever since Connor McGovern left for the New York Jets. Same goes for the right tackle position. Once Orlando Franklin retired, the position has been as much as a turnstile as the quarterback position has.

Mike McGlinchey would seem to be a solution to this problem. McGlinchey was a top-10 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and has had some moments of living up to the hype, but has also had some injury problems.

That is a scary thing to say in regards to the Broncos’ luck as of late, he has missed four plus games in two of his seasons, one of them on IR with a torn quad in 2021. Again, that is not awful, but is enough to make one who has failed in the luck department worry.

If the Denver Broncos were able to get the wide-zone specialist and get the best of him, their right tackle position would be in the best spot it has been in since Orlando Franklin. Adding Pocic and McGlinchey to the Broncos’ offensive line would give them three solid starters along with Quinn Meinerz.

Garrett Bolles may or may not be a Denver Bronco in 2022, he will probably be asked to restructure. Reporting from early on indicates he will rebuttal a restructure, but that situation has to play out. If he returns, that would give the Denver Broncos a solid four with just one solid need at left guard.

Left guard would be a position filled via the NFL draft.

All of this seems crazy, but it is manageable. Hypothetically, Payne signs for $20 million per, Arden Key, Sheldon Rankins and Ethan Pocic all sign for a $6-8 million per year type of contract, and Jerick McKinnon and Michael Thomas can be signed for a combined $10-12 million, it is totally feasible.

Here is the guide to the Denver Broncos re-tooling their roster in order to finally get over the hump of the Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City Chiefs.

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