Denver Broncos: 5 offseason needs in 2020

ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 24: John Elway President of Football Operations/General Manager for the Denver Broncos walks to the field for warm ups before the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on November 24, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Denver 20-3. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

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OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 24: Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles (72) walks down the hallway during the regular season NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Offensive Line

The Broncos are playing the long game with offensive line coach Mike Munchak in place. That could ultimately mean more frustrating times with left tackle Garett Bolles, who has been a penalty machine at the left tackle position since coming into the NFL in 2017.

Because of Bolles’ inconsistency, the Broncos may not be willing to pick up his fifth-year option for 2021.

They also have to think about Ja’Wuan James’ health and the fact that he missed almost the entire 2019 season after signing a massive $52 million contract with knee issues that were cleared by team doctors multiple times.

With center Connor McGovern headed to free agency and right guard Ron Leary a likely cap casualty, the only truly solidified spot on the Broncos’ line is left guard, which is manned by Dalton Risner.

The team will likely move forward with Bolles and James at the tackle positions, but contingencies need to be put in place, and much more capable ones than what Denver has trotted out there in recent years.

There are at least three needs for the Broncos on the offensive line, and they will have to use both free agency and the NFL Draft to fill them.

This year’s crop of tackles coming out is a rare group as far as college prospects are concerned, but the free agent group is nothing to write home about. The Broncos have been burned plenty in the past by both free-agent linemen and linemen selected high in the NFL Draft, but the presence of Mike Munchak — the best offensive line coach in the NFL — brings confidence that whatever unit is assembled will eventually produce at a high level.

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