Pritchard, Stokley push for Broncos to target Colorado native Solder
Feb 19, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Feb 20, 2018, 5:22 pm
Unquestionably, the focus of the Denver Broncos offseason will likely reside with upgrading the quarterback position, whether through free agency or the NFL Draft.
But if there’s a “1-A” priority the Broncos should concern themselves with, Mike Pritchard said last week, it’s addressing the offensive line.
“If you’re the Denver Broncos, I know the priority is the quarterback. And I get it,” the “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host said on Wednesday. “Priority 1-A absolutely has to be addressing the offensive line.”
Pritchard and his co-host Cecil Lammey singled out not only the biggest position of need along the offensive line, tackle, but also an immediate fix.
“I want Nate Solder more than I want Kirk Cousins,” Lammey said of the New England Patriots left tackle compared to the soon-to-be former Washington Redskins quarterback.
Pritchard said the Broncos need to “make it happen” with Solder, a Colorado native who also played his college football at the University of Colorado before being selected in the first round of the 2011 draft by New England.
“You’ve got $26 million estimated right now, you’re going to clear out more room, you’re going to find other ways to clear out more room,” Pritchard said. “You can fit a Nate Solder onto the roster if he’s a free agent.”
“Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley also advocated for Denver to bring in Solder, going as far as including him in his “perfect offseason” plan for the Broncos.
But Stokley believes that should Denver swing both Solder and Cousins, the club would need to free up some cap room to address other areas of need, arguing the only way to do so would be to trade prolific pass rusher Von Miller.
“Look, you want Kirk Cousins and Nate Solder, well now we’ve got to trade Von and now we’ve also got the fourth pick in the draft to go with the fifth pick in the draft,” Stokley said. “And now we’re talking. Now we’re talking about fixing this football team quickly.”
Solder, 29, would certainly be an upgrade at left tackle for the Broncos, whose starter in 2017 was rookie Garett Bolles.
Pro Football Focus graded Bolles as the 42nd-ranked tackle in the NFL in 2017, while Solder landed at 32nd.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
