Broncos 2021 Free Agency Preview: Offensive Tackles

When the NFL free agency kicks off on March 17, the Broncos figure to be very active. For one, they have a lot of holes to fill, so there are plenty of reasons to go shopping. In addition, Denver has a new general manager, as George Paton will want to put an immediate stamp on his new team.

Currently, the Broncos are $39 million under the 2021 salary cap, but that number could grow a ton, depending on what Paton decides to do with high-priced veterans. Von Miller, Jurrell Casey and Bryce Callahan are just some of the names who could be let go to free up space to sign new faces, with more than $60 million potentially available.

How should the Broncos put all of those dollars to use? In the weeks leading up to the start of free agency, we’ll offer a position-by-position breakdown of the best players projected to be on the open market, as well as analysis of who would be a realistic fit in Denver.

It continues today with a position where the Broncos could use some help – offensive tackle. On paper, they’re set, with Garett Bolles on the left side and Ja’Wuan James on the right. But James remains a big question mark, having only played a handful of snaps in 2019 and opting out of the ’20 campaign. He’ll be on the roster in 2021 because he has a $19 million dead cap. But will he play? And what’s his status for 2022 and beyond? Given those questions, the Broncos might be in the market for some insurance at tackle.

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Top Five Available

1. Taylor Moton – Moton has been a fixture at right tackle for the Panthers the past three seasons, starting 48 out of 48 games during that timeframe. In fact, he’s played nearly every snap across that stretch. And he’s been really, really solid. In addition to opening holes for Christian McCaffrey and other Carolina backs, he’s been solid in pass protection. And he’s been relatively penalty-free. In 2020, his only flag came on a false start.

2. Alejandro Villanueva – Villaneuva has also been an iron man. He’s started 80 out of 80 games for the Steelers during the past five seasons. He’s also been relatively reliable during that time, playing nearly every snap along the way. He has been slightly penalty-prone, however, as he’s racked up 13 holding calls, 10 false starts and eight declined penalties during that time; that’s a lot of yellow hankies. But Villanueva is an athletic tackle, able to play both sides of the line.

3. Trent Williams – After missing the entire 2019 season due to injuries and a contract squabble in Washington, Williams made his way to San Francisco this past season. Even at 32 years old, the long-time tackle didn’t miss a beat, earning his eighth Pro Bowl invite. He’ll demand a hefty pay day, with his value projected north of $18 million in 2021, but for a team looking to fill a hole at tackle, he’s a great short-term fix.

4. Daryl Williams – Spotrac projects Williams worthy of a two-year, $15.8 million contract on the open market. They also declare him to be the 10th-best right tackle in the league. If those two things are true, he’s a steal. After five up-and-down years in Carolina, the former fourth-round pick made his way to Buffalo in 2020. He started all 16 games and was a part of a prolific Bills offense, anchoring the right side of the line.

5. Cam Robinson – The former second-round pick out of Alabama has finally hit his stride. He slipped out of the first round in 2017 because of questions surrounding his work ethic. When he struggled during his first two seasons, those worries seemed well-founded. The past two years, however, he’s been stellar, playing in 30 out of 32 games. As a result, he’ll score a big contract in free agency, probably averaging about $12 million per year. He’ll turn 26 in October, making him a long-term solution at left tackle.

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Realistic Options for the Broncos

1. Mike Remmers – Remmers has bounced around a bit, having been a part of seven different franchises during his 10-year career. This past season, he was in Kansas City, where started 10 games at tackle. At 32 years old, he’s not a long-term answer. Heck, he might not even be a full-season answer. But he’s a good insurance policy, as he can play either side of the line and can even move inside and play tackle if called upon. That’s a good utility player.

2. Marshall Newhouse – Newhouse has a resume that reads a lot like the one Remmers has on display. He’s played for eight teams during his 10-year career, including five in the past four seasons. In other words, he’s not a solid answer. But like Remmers, he can play either tackle position, as well as guard, so he’s a versatile player who can plug a lot of different spots if called upon. In addition, he won’t break the bank, making him a good backup option.

3. Ty Sambrailo – Remember him? He was a second-round pick of the Broncos in 2015, a selection that turned out to be a bust. In part, that’s because the Colorado State product wasn’t ready to step in and play right away at the NFL level. But he was forced to early during his career in Denver, with disastrous results. Since then, he’s become a consistent and versatile player in Atlanta and Tennessee. He’d be a solid insurance policy.

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