Schlereth: Veldheer trade a ‘good move’ but questions remain for Broncos
Mar 27, 2018, 12:23 PM
On Friday, the Denver Broncos shored up one of its offseason needs on Friday by trading a sixth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for offensive tackle Jared Veldheer.
Veldheer, a nine-year NFL player for both the Cardinals and the Oakland Raiders, looks to take over for Menelik Watson, whom Pro Football Focus graded as the 73rd-ranked tackle league-wide in 2017.
Having started 101 regular season games since being drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft by Oakland, Veldheer has given up just 28 sacks in his career and was a part of a Cardinals offensive line that game up the third-least sacks in the NFL during the past two seasons.
But despite what appears to be an upgrade for the Broncos offensive line, “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth said trading for Veldheer isn’t necessarily a “cure” for Denver’s woes up front.
“I think it’s a good first move. It doesn’t necessarily fix your offensive problems, but it’s a step in the right direction,” Schlereth said.
Schlereth, who played guard for the Broncos for six seasons in the late 1990s, said there are still a “boatload” of questions with Denver’s offensive line, including how Veldheer will do in making the transition from left to right tackle.
“Being asked to make that move later in your career is a tough transition,” Schlereth said. “Going to camp, getting yourself through OTAs and through training camp and all those things, reps over there at right tackle, he should settle in and play very well.
Acquiring Veldheer, Schlereth said, also doesn’t preclude the Broncos from using the draft to “solidify” other parts of the offensive line, including guard, and “adding depth.”
On Monday, Schlereth said suggested Denver take Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson at No. 5 if the team looks at him and sees a “generational-type player.” Otherwise, the Broncos could trade back to procure more picks to address other roster holes.
“You’ve got so many other issues that you need to address,” Schlereth said, adding “you have to” take a deal if a team offers the right price.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
