Broncos tackle Ja’Wuan James opting out leaves offensive line with more questions

Ja’Wuan James joins the growing list of players to opt-out of NFL season.

After four years in Miami, the Denver Broncos signed right tackle Ja’Wuan James to a massive four-year, $52 million contract, at the time, the biggest and still the fourth largest across the NFL.

Those high expectations quickly surmised due to injury, as James played just three games last season, tearing his MCL in the opener and his meniscus later in the year. Now, Broncos fans will have to wait another year for the James investment to pay off, as he has opted out of the 2020 season.

James posted a message on Twitter explaining his decision, speaking particularly about the health aspect of it after welcoming his newborn son in late May and having a family member hospitalized due to the coronavirus.

He also commented on his absence last season, saying,

"“To the Denver Community, these first two years weren’t what I expected them to be when arriving here. I know you don’t know me well & a false narrative was painted of me last year due to comments made about my injury, but I am invested in this city and my team.”"

The Broncos will miss James protecting Drew Lock.

While James expresses that he was recovering for 2020, it may not hurt to take another year of rehab. Two serious injuries in the same season are nothing to risk, and if James can take even more time to recover, he may return as an entirely new player, even if it takes a year or two to get there.

The Broncos will miss his presence at right tackle where he was counted on keeping second-year quarterback Drew Lock healthy and upright. The Broncos are a sleeper in the AFC this year with the optimism that Lock and rookie receivers Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler will invigorate the offense. However, with James opting out, former first-round pick Garrett Boles effectively wins the left tackle job by default and Elijah Wilkinson will get the opportunity to start at the vacated right tackle spot with James’ decision.