Broncos Still Don't Have Long-Term Solution for Protecting Drew Lock

The Denver Broncos have seemingly found a quarterback of the future in Drew Lock. His sample size of five games is incredibly small, but he did enough to win the job without any competition heading into 2020.

The focus now is on the team's offensive line. Ja'Waun James, Graham Glasgow and Dalton Risner are the only regulars under contract beyond 2020. The biggest hole on the team is landing a franchise left tackle. That was supposed to be 2017 first-round pick Garett Bolles, but he reportedly just had his fifth-year option denied by the team.

Per @MikeKlis the #Broncos didn't pick up OT Garett Bolles' 5th yr option. Given state of OT play in NFL, this isn't a good sign for the long-term outlook on Drew Lock's blindside.
Fine with their WR-WR approach given ++WR class, but it was also a ++OT class. Which is rarer? ?
— Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL) May 1, 2020

The Broncos selected 10 players in the 2020 NFL Draft. The first two were receivers and not a single offensive tackle was part of the class. That is a bit odd given the latest news on Bolles. The former No. 20 overall pick has played and started in all 48 of his career games. The problem is he just can't stop drawing penalties when he is on the field.

But his penalty rate of one infraction (not just holding, but all types) every 102 snaps in Weeks 13-17, while an improvement, still ranked 64th of 87 OTs in Weeks 13-17. His season-long penalty rate of one every 59.5 snaps was 93rd of 97 OTs.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) April 30, 2020

The left tackle spot is the most important in protecting Lock and the Broncos may be starting all over again in 2021. It's tough to expect players like Calvin Anderson and Jake Rodgers, who are behind Bolles, to step in without a drop in production.

Trent Williams went to San Francisco and the Broncos passed on a deep tackle class in favor of skill players. The biggest knock on John Elway has been not being able to draft and develop quarterbacks. Now that he finally has one, he's failed to protect him.