December 14th 2024.
In the Grading The Week offices, there is one rule that is set in stone: we root for good narratives and stories, not for specific teams. However, I must admit that we have made some exceptions when it comes to individual players in the Front Range.
Let me be transparent here: the team at GTW HQ is thrilled for Garett Bolles after he secured a four-year, $82-million contract extension with the Broncos earlier this week. We have been wondering for months whether the Broncos would keep or let go of Big 72, and this new deal essentially solidifies his spot on the team for the rest of his career, or at least until 2028 when he turns 36.
Bolles' contract extension has been given a B-plus grade. Some may argue that the Broncos overpaid, but it depends on who you ask. According to Spotrac, Bolles' average annual value of $20.5 million would rank eighth among NFL tackles in 2024, 2025, and 2026, and seventh in 2027. The top earners for those years are all the same: Tristan Wirfs from the Buccaneers, Penei Sewell from the Lions, and Trent Williams from the 49ers.
While Bolles may not possess the same abilities as Williams or Sewell, who are both younger than him, he has managed to hold his own on the field, and he has stayed relatively healthy, which is impressive for a player over 30 years old. In fact, Bolles ranks fourth among all tackles in pass protection, according to Pro Football Focus, and has only allowed one sack in 817 snaps and 13 starts heading into the Colts game this Sunday.
Now that the Broncos have secured Bolles, their focus will shift to other areas that need improvement. The front office, led by Sean Payton and George Paton, has already built a top-6 offensive line, with all starters except for center Luke Wattenberg under contract until at least 2026. It's clear that they don't want to fix what isn't broken, and extending Bolles is a testament to that mindset.
Not only does this move secure Bolles' spot on the team, but it also takes the pressure off of finding a blind-side protector for new quarterback Bo Nix in the upcoming draft. NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter has listed only three collegiate tackles in his top 25 Senior Bowl prospects, and the top two are expected to be drafted much earlier than when the Broncos will make their pick.
However, there are still some promising options in the draft, particularly at the tight end position. There are a few big receivers from the Big Ten who could make a big impact, such as 6-foot-6 Tyler Warren from Penn State and 6-foot-5 Colston Loveland from Michigan.
It's clear that Sean Payton is building a Saints 2.0 team up in Dove Valley, one piece at a time. With Nix as his Drew Brees, and Pro Bowl-level guards in Powers and Quinn Meinerz, he now has the opportunity to add another Jimmy Graham or Alvin Kamara-type player to the mix. By extending Bolles, the Broncos have opened up a path to address this need in the draft, and it's going to be exciting to see how it all plays out.
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