The Denver Broncos are going to have some difficult decisions to make during the 2024 NFL offseason. Already projected to be more than $25 million over the salary cap, more expensive decisions are on the horizon.
The biggest and most expensive will center around quarterback Russell Wilson. The Broncos have decided to move on from him, benching him near the end of the regular season so that his contract doesn’t become guaranteed for more money.
Could his blindside protector, Garett Bolles, also be on the move this offseason? Nick Kosminder of The Athletic certainly believes that is a possibility, as Bolles is one of the veteran contracts the team could look to move on from to get under the salary cap.
NFL News & Rumors: Garett Boles & Denver Broncos Updates
“Moving on from a player like that is not a decision an organization arrives at lightly. The estimation here, though, is the Broncos have enough to gain — financially and otherwise — by making the difficult decision to turn the page at left tackle.
“Prediction: The Broncos land late-round compensation for Bolles in a trade near or during the draft.”
A first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, No. 20 overall out of Utah, Bolles is entering the final season of a four-year, $68 million extension. He has been a steady producer during his NFL career, earning a spot on the All-Pro Second Team in 2020.
This past season, Bolles was the No. 9 pass-blocking left tackle in the NFL per Pro Football Focus. Plenty of teams around the league will see value in that as he is certainly still a starting-caliber player. But, the monetary benefits of trading him likely outweigh what he provides on the field for the Broncos.
NFL News & Rumors: Garett Boles & Denver Broncos Updates
Denver would save $16 million in cap space if they move on from Bolles, a nice chunk of change given how far over the salary cap they already are. On top of that, they will be receiving some draft compensation to address needs on the roster.
Injuries looked to be an issue for Bolles at one point in his career. He played in only five games in 2022 and missed four games combined in the two seasons before that. However, he hasn’t missed a single game in the other four seasons of his career, making him a prime target for any team looking for a solid left tackle upgrade.
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