With Flacco acquired, consensus is Broncos must find way to fix o-line
Feb 17, 2019, 7:14 PM | Updated: Feb 18, 2019, 7:17 am
With a deal in principle to acquire Joe Flacco from the Baltimore Ravens, the Denver Broncos now turn toward the offseason and upgrading its roster through free agency and the NFL draft.
Among the position groups most desperately in need of being addressed in the coming months, Brandon Stokley said Friday the offensive line would be his top priority.
“I think when you look at importance, No. 1 is offensive line,” the “Stokley and Zach” co-host said.
Stokley said with uncertainty with top offensive lineman Matt Paradis, an unrestricted free agent coming off a broken leg suffered midway through last season, the need for possibly two guards and a right tackle, and the need for more production from Garett Bolles, “there ‘s a lot of needs and a lot of question marks on this offensive line.”
Later Friday, 104.3 The Fan’s Sandy Clough called the offensive line one of two position groups “in crisis right now” for the Broncos — the other being the cornerbacks.
“Even if you’re in love with the Joe Flacco trade … there is a lot of work, a lot of work, to be done,” Clough said.
Denver 7 Insider Troy Renck, filling in on “The Drive” on Friday, said that the Broncos are all in on Flacco, but in order to be in that mindset the offensive line needs to be addressed.
“You can’t be all in on Flacco without fixing the offensive line,” Renck said.
According to Pro Football Focus, grading each NFL team after Week 17 in January, the Broncos offensive line, riddled with injuries throughout the year, ranked 24th in the league.
In the positive column, however, this offseason Denver hired Mike Munchak, considered by many to be one of the best, if not the best, offensive line coaches in the NFL.
In January, “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth said Munchak “may be the most important hire this offseason” for the Broncos.
“Did we possibly, quite possibly, get a coach who becomes the most valuable coach, even more so than the head coach, in Mike Munchak?” Schlereth said.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
