A big reason why the Denver Broncos were able to reel off fourteen victories, earn the AFC West title, and become the top-seed in the AFC for the playoffs was the performance of their offensive line. A unit that had been in flux for most of the past decade, the Broncos’ offensive front five has become one of the best in the NFL.
The Broncos have drafted and signed a lot of tough and battle-tested players to their roster over the past few seasons. Upgrading the trenches has been a significant priority
for the franchise. There is no doubt the additions made by Head Coach Sean Payton, as well as the tutelage of Assistant Head Coach and Run Game Coordinator Zach Strief have been instrumental in the team’s upward trek. Bo Nix wasn’t sacked a whole lot and the starting front five performed at a high level in most every outing this season.
In order for that success to continue, investing in the line long-term will likely be a focal point for Denver again this coming offseason. However, some news broke recently with two Broncos offensive lineman being highlighted. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, left tackle Garett Bolles and right guard Quinn Meinerz have been nominated for the Protector of the Year award.
Meinerz, a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was named to this year’s Pro-Bowl and received first-team All-Pro honors for the second season in a row. Meinerz, in 1,109 snaps of action, was flagged for just three penalties and allowed just two sacks. He has quickly established himself as one of the best guards in the league.
Bolles, the team’s longest-tenured player and first-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, was also named to the Pro-Bowl and received first-team All-Pro honors for his efforts as well. Playing in 1,126 snaps this past season, Bolles wasn’t credited with a single sack and had seven penalties on the season per Pro Football Focus. The former Utah Ute has certainly come a long way over the course of his career and has become one of the NFL’s most reliable and consistent blindside protectors.
A tip of the hat to Bolles and Meinerz on the recognition. It would be great to see one of them take home the honor. Maybe it’s just my orange and blue colored glasses, but I think Bolles has a really good shot at winning it. He had a great season and is definitely deserving of the accolade.
