The most important position that gets the least amount of love has long been offensive tackle, but now it’s time to shift our focus to the Denver Broncos’ outlook at the position and give the players their much-deserved flowers.
Offensive tackle is also fairly set for the Broncos, but some mysteries still need solving.
Will Matt Peart return? What does the future of the depth at the position look like? Is Quinn Bailey still in the team’s plans?
All those questions and more are answered below.
Garett Bolles
How Did 2024 Go For Them?
2024 was a fantastic year for Garett Bolles.
For starters, he signed a contract extension with the Denver Broncos worth $82 million over four seasons, with $42 million in guaranteed money. That should constitute a damn good year for anyone. The deal also likely locks him up in Denver through at least the next two seasons, though it will very likely be three, probably making him a Bronco for the entirety of his NFL career.
🗣️ Garett Bolles
— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports_) January 6, 2025
"I love this organization. That's why I stayed here. I didn't wanna go anywhere. I'm just grateful to be a part of it, as I'm coming down to the final stretch of my career."#broncoscountry pic.twitter.com/nALK6GoRLE
On top of that, he further established his reputation as one of the league’s 10-or-so best tackles, which represents an impressive turnaround after his career’s rocky start. Plus, with Bo Nix now entrenched as his quarterback, and the Broncos seemingly deadset on turning their rushing attack into an elite one, Bolles should only continue to rise in notoriety over the coming seasons.
Grade: A-
What Needs To Be Addressed This Offseason?
With his contract extension freshly signed, and his role on the roster completely unquestioned, there is truly nothing to address regarding Garett Bolles this offseason.
If you really wanted to reach for something to address, you could say it would nice to see Garett Bolles emerge as more of a locker room, with the Broncos likely adding some rookies to the line this offseason, but that’s fairly unquantifiable.
What Should the Denver Broncos Do?
Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey won’t be around forever, with both being on the wrong side of 31 this season. With that in mind, the Denver Broncos have to make sure they’re developing some sort of a succession plan, but more on that in the sections to come.
Mike McGlinchey
How Did 2024 Go For Them?
Mike McGlinchey was Public Enemy No. 1 for much of Broncos Country after a ho-hum first season in Denver that saw him allow the most pressures and sacks of his career, while being penalized nine different times — tied for the 22nd-most among all NFL offensive linemen.
In 2024, the Denver Broncos got what they paid for, as McGlinchey was even better as a run blocker, and became a much more reliable pass protector, allowing the fewest pressures and sacks per game of any season of his career. There were even four games where he didn’t allow a single pressure.
Mike McGlinchey demonstrates how to properly finish a block in pass pro
— Ross (@Ross_MHR) October 21, 2024
Heckuva first play back from injury
Full film review on @MileHighReport #Broncos #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/xsawPxw8Zu
McGlinchey did miss four weeks during this season, but that oddly almost seemed to boost his value in the eyes of the fans. Even with Alex Palczewski performing like a quality backup, it was clear that the position was much worse without Denver’s personnel pass-blocking sasquatch.
Now, tensions surrounding McGlinchey’s giant contract have understandably cooled, and he figures to be the Broncos’ starter at the position for at least one more season, likely two-plus.
Grade: B+
What Needs To Be Addressed This Offseason?
Should the Broncos restructure Mike McGlinchey or not?
One of the easiest ways for Denver to create a mountain of cap space this offseason is by restructuring McGlinchey’s contract for the second consecutive offseason — a move that could save them up to $12.2 million.
The downside to that deal would be that it would financially cement McGlinchey’s place as the Broncos’ starting right tackle through at least the end of 2026, and probably through 2027.
That’s a bit of a gamble, as McGlinchey will be 32 in 2026, and there’s reason to believe he might not age as gracefully as his recent peers at the position. His 6-foot-8 build isn’t common, and he pairs it with a game predicated on athleticism. That doesn’t fit the profile of a tackle you want to bet on at 33.
What Should the Denver Broncos Do?
The Denver Broncos currently have plenty of cap space for this offseason, unless they want to be hyper-aggressive, so there’s no real need to restructure McGlinchey.
Plus, even if they do want to spend more than they currently have available, there are plenty of safer alternatives for freeing up money that don’t involve restructuring McGlinchey.
Along with not touching McGlinchey’s deal, the Broncos should invest in a quality mid-round tackle in the draft, to see if they can develop them into an eventual starter, and to provide more insurance against McGlinchey leaving or declining in the coming seasons.
Matt Peart
How Did 2024 Go For Them?
After a horrific 2023 that saw him perform as one of the worst tackles in the league, leading to him signing a one-year deal worth slightly more than the league minimum, Matt Peart had a resurgent 2024.
Broncos OT Matt Peart, who filled in for Alex Palczewski last week, says that OL coach Zach Strief "broke me down and built me back up" in recent months after Peart joined Denver following 5 years with the Giants.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 12, 2024
"Honestly, [Strief] kind of just broke down everything and kind… pic.twitter.com/xfNvmX2OWC
Now, by no means was he a standout, but he was serviceable when filling in for both Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey, and performed well as the team’s sixth offensive lineman when they got into jumbo personnel. As a fill-in, Peart didn’t allow a single sack and only gave up one hit on the quarterback.
He should be able to capitalize on the strong campaign now as a free agent. It’s hard to imagine him getting a starting job elsewhere, but Denver probably isn’t the only team that views him as a serviceable swing tackle now, driving up his value. Peart’s next contract might be worth 400% more than his current salary.
Grade: B+
What Needs To Be Addressed This Offseason?
Is he coming back to the Denver Broncos or not?
Peart played well for the Broncos, and with offensive line play often being defined by its weakest links rather than its strongest points, there’s a desire to just maintain that level of security. However, the Broncos have a cheaper, younger, potentially more versatile option in Alex Palczewski waiting in the wings.
Plus, Denver hasn’t drafted a single offensive tackle since 2017, and that becomes more and more problematic with every year that Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey age. They might want a more substantial plan than Peart, who, while serviceable, doesn’t offer an exciting ceiling.
What Should the Denver Broncos Do?
The Broncos’ immediate success with Bo Nix can muddy the water, but this is still a young, rebuilding team, who is trying to get cheaper in many ways. That should apply here too, especially with a quality replacement plan already under roster control.
It’s also probably about time they made a mid-round upside bet at the position, so they can start setting up a succession plan for when they eventually move on from McGlinchey and/or Bolles, and three backup tackles would be a bit excessive.
Letting Peart walk and praying his value has climbed enough to net you a compensatory pick is the wisest move.
Alex Palczewski
How Did 2024 Go For Them?
After spending all but one week on injured reserve with a hand injury in 2023, Alex Palczewski had a tremendous 2024 that saw him emerge as one of the Denver Broncos’ key reserve linemen and perform well in that role.
Palczewski played just 179 snaps, with 163 coming in relief of Mike McGlinchey, 13 filling in for Quinn Meinerz, and three as in an inline tight end. In that limited time, he ranked 12th out of 103 qualifying tackles in pass blocking efficiency a Pro Football Focus metric that looks at how many pressures, quarterback hits, and sacks you’re allowing on a per-snap basis. He also was an effective run blocker, though he was a clear downgrade on McGlinchey when filling in for him.
Now, with Matt Peart set to hit free agency, Palczewski could climb up the depth chart and earn the spot as the Broncos’ top reserve tackle, a reserve guard, and maybe a potential future starter. At worst, he has likely solidified a roster spot for 2025 considering how teams covet cheap offensive line depth.
That’s a remarkable outcome for Palczewski, who was a rough training camp or preseason from potentially falling out of the league entirely before 2024 even started.
So…
— Patrick Chiotti (@PatrickChiotti) September 24, 2024
This Alex Palczewski kid…
đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/AvnJHwbNB0
Grade: B+
What Needs To Be Addressed This Offseason?
With Palczewski under contract, all that needs to be addressed is his standing in the Broncos’ offensive line hierarchy.
In 2024, he was used as the team’s primary replacement for any injured Bronco on the right side of the line, with Peart filling in on the left side. That will likely be his role again, but if Peart leaves in free agency, Palczewski could easily see his role expand to take over that voided responsibility, practically making him the ‘sixth man’ of the offensive line.
There’s also potential, although unlikely, for him to slide down the depth chart. If Peart returns and the Broncos make an addition on the offensive line, Palczewski could wind up being the big loser in the transaction. The same thought applies if the Broncos let Peart walk, but make two young additions along the line.
What Should the Denver Broncos Do?
The Denver Broncos have to keep investing draft capital into the offensive line.
Matt Peart is a free agent, they could still use an upgrade at center, where Luke Wattenberg is entering the last year of his deal, and Ben Powers likely has no more than two seasons left in orange and blue, and it could potentially be just one. Mike McGlinchey’s future will also start to be evaluated in the next year or two, though his situation is less pressing.
As a result, the Broncos need to consider offensive linemen in the draft, no matter their position, as they could use them all. They should also scour the market for undrafted free agents worth developing.
Frank Crum
How Did 2024 Go For Them?
As a rookie undrafted free agent at the offensive tackle position, on a team with two cemented starters at the position, Frank Crum deserves to be graded on a slight curve.
For starters, he was on the 53-man roster for much of the 2024 season and was even activated for six games, playing snaps in all of them. As long as he lives, he can tell his kids and grandkids and anyone else in his life that he played in multiple NFL games.
That’s better than 90-plus percent of Bachelorette contestants with their occupation listed as ‘former NFL player,’ only for you to google them and discover they appeared on a rookie minicamp roster for one-half of a practice before a six-month stint as chief ball boy for the Montreal Alouettes.
Crum also has a good chance to make the roster next season, considering the current lack of competition for his job, his uncommon physical gifts, and the fact the coaching staff clearly has some level of affinity for him.
Frank Crum is a OT prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.95 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 8 out of 1293 OT from 1987 to 2024.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 3, 2024
Splits projectedhttps://t.co/HWEEYOSwuA pic.twitter.com/ScdRcJnWJA
Now, all that said, his time on the field, both in the preseason and the regular season, was pretty underwhelming. He had a poor handle on how to create leverage and was too easily displaced by smaller defenders. That should be somewhat expected for a raw 6-foot-7, 315-pound tackle, but it still presented itself as a necessary area for growth.
Crum took steps forward as the season progressed, and should be a fun block of clay for OL coach Zach Strief to attempt to mold through training camp, at the least.
Grade: B-
What Needs To Be Addressed This Offseason?
Frank Crum’s case is very similar to Palczewski’s, so, much like his undrafted comrade, the big mystery for Crum will ultimately be where he falls in the pecking order on the Denver Broncos’ offensive line.
Right now, the starting five appear cemented, but how the depth shakes out is a complete mystery. We know that Alex Forsyth is probably the backup center and Alex Palczewski is the backup at right guard and right tackle, but the left side will be wide open if Matt Peart leaves in free agency.
That spot could go to Palczewski if he becomes the go-to utility fill-in for everyone but the center; it could go to a new rookie addition or low-end vet addition, a la Peart; or it could go to Crum. The biggest wrench in those plans is probably the fact that Crum is primarily a right tackle.
Nonetheless, Crum and Nick Gargiulo could wind up competing to be a backup at the bottom of the depth chart.
Although nice to potentially have a role, that also leaves Crum just one addition away from tumbling off the roster and onto the practice squad, and, as we previously discussed, the Broncos would be wise to add some youth at tackle this spring.
What Should the Denver Broncos Do?
The Denver Broncos should continue investing in Crum’s development, simply because he does have some very appealing traits and Coach Strief has proven worthy of trust when it comes to developing these younger contributors.
That said, they can make that investment on the practice squad. The Broncos will probably want to swap out some of their older pieces along the line for some cheaper youth, and Crum hasn’t proven enough to be guaranteed a roster spot as some of that fresh blood.
Denver has to continue exploring avenues toward their potential starting tackles and guards of the future, while hopefully having enough room on the practice squad to continue working on Crum’s development.
Quinn Bailey
How Did 2024 Go For Them?
Quinn Bailey’s 2024 was pretty terrible, though that is through no fault of his own.
During training camp, Bailey suffered a fractured ankle and dislocated fibula and ultimately wound up missing the entire season. Making matters even worse for Bailey is that his contract with the team expires this offseason, and now it will be much harder to find a deal, let alone a favorable one.
It also might be difficult to return to Denver, with Frank Crum and Alex Palczewski — two younger and cheaper players that the Broncos have under contract — entering the offensive line rotation, and even more probably being added to the team’s roster this spring.
Grade: F
What Needs To Be Addressed This Offseason?
Do the Broncos prefer Quinn Bailey’s experience, or would they rather look to continue developing their young pieces on the offensive line?
Alex Palczewski impressed last year, but Frank Crum was pretty shaky and will have to earn his roster spot in camp. In 2023, when Bailey was last healthy, Sean Payton enjoyed using him as the sixth offensive line when the Broncos got into heavier offensive personnel and could want that known commodity back in his rotation.
We’ve already seen that desire for familiarity rear its head with former Saints players when it came to addressing a lot of Denver’s other problem areas, so that could potentially favor Bailey here.
What Should the Denver Broncos Do?
The Denver Broncos should continue to re-invest in their offensive line with another quality young piece. In lieu of adding a new piece, running it back with Crum would probably be better than re-signing Bailey. Even though Crum wasn’t too impressive last season, he still boasts some jaw-dropping traits for Zach Strief to work with, and Palczewski proved more than capable of filling as Denver’s ‘sixth man’ along the offensive line.
Will Sherman
How Did 2024 Go For Them?
Will Sherman bounced on and off the Denver Broncos roster/practice squad twice in 2024, but he ultimately lands on the roster as we enter 2025.
Although he’s on the roster now, the Broncos have made it extremely clear that he’s the least safe player in his position group, and they’ll likely cut him again before training camp even starts.
Grade: D-
What Needs To Be Addressed This Offseason?
Can he earn a roster spot? He hasn’t been able to, despite the Broncos first showing interest in him at the end of the 2022 season, but they keep stringing him along, so there’s always a chance.
That said, his roster bounces are happening with greater regularity, with Denver’s last release of Sherman resulting from an injury that landed him on the injured reserve list, so it seems he’s running out of rope.
What Should the Denver Broncos Do?
The Broncos have seen plenty of Sherman, both during past offseason programs and in-season practice sessions, to determine whether or not he’s a worthwhile developmental project. Right now, the answer seems like a big ‘no’ and the Broncos have younger, better players they should focus on developing, with Crum and Palczewski
