The Denver Broncos have two tackles set in stone for 2024: Garett Bolles on the left side and Mike McGlinchey on the right side.
Denver doesn’t need to add a tackle in this year’s draft. If the Broncos decide they want one, a developmental prospect who could be ready next season might make the most sense. Bolles’ contract is up after this year.
Anything is possible. Maybe they’ll draft a first-round tackle and immediately trade Bolles, but that sort of chaos appears to be unlikely.
Here are five tackles the Broncos should consider in the draft:
Troy Fautanu, Washington
Range: First Round
Fautanu is a do-it-all lineman.
The 23-year-old can play any position on the line, but mostly played left tackle at Washington. If you wanted, you could move him inside to guard, or even center.
At just under 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Fautanu is a boxy prospect. He also has 34-1/2-inch arms, though, which is plenty of length to play tackle. He has the attitude to be a force in the running game and the quick feet to make plays downfield.
Fautanu could be a great option for the Broncos becasue of his versatility. Denver is set at both guard and tackle spots for this season, but Fautanu could serve as the first off the bench for any of them. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah added that at least one team thinks he’s best at center, which could give Fautanu an easier path to the field as a rookie. Then he could shift to another position after his rookie year, depending on where the roster stands.
It’s a complex plan, but the Broncos don’t have an immediate need at tackle, so if they grab one in the first round, they could value the versatility Fautanu provides.
Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
Range: First Round
At 6-foot-6 and 326 pounds, Fuaga is a big man.
His strength is his strength but he’s more mobile than you’d expect from a man his size. Questions exist about whether he’s quick enough to play tackle. He certainly fits better on the right side, where all 25 of his college starts came. If Fuaga doesn’t work out at tackle, he should easily slide into a guard spot.
Fuaga is known for his tenacity. He fights. He finishes blocks. He makes loud plays that blow open holes, but those tendencies occasionally lead to penalites. The penalties might be nit-picking, though. He was an All-American.
The Broncos already have a nasty streak up front in Quinn Meinerz. Adding another physically-imposing lineman would reinforce that identity.
JC Latham, Alabama
Range: First Round
Latham is exactly who he was supposed to be.
The former five-star recruit chose Alabama over offers from just about any school you can think of. He earned the starting right tackle job in his sophomore season. He held that through his junior season, when he earned All-America honors.
Now, still just 21 years old, Latham is ready for the NFL.
Latham is massively strong. He’s also just straight-up massive at 342 pounds. When he gets his hands on a defender, that defender is going backward.
Latham is still fairly raw, and he doesn’t have elite quickness, as you’d expect from a man his size. Still, his ablity to displace defenders and lock up pass rushers makes him a high-end prospect.
Patrick Paul, Houston
Range: Day 2
At 6-foot-7.5 and 331 pounds, Paul has a “first-off-the-bus” build.
The physical traits are obvious. He has the longest arms of any tackle in the draft. He’s only 22, despite three seasons of first-team all-conference honors.
Paul is probably a developmental prospect. He comes from the Air Raid system, so his run blocking is underdevloped. He’ll need to grow in that regard. His high center of gravity can backfire against power rushers, too.
After a year on the bench, Paul could be a very good option at left tackle. That could make him a fit for the Broncos, since Garett Bolles’ contract is set to expire after this season.
Blake Fisher, Notre Dame
Range: Day 2 or 3
Blake Fisher was a blue-chip recruit. He was the first Notre Dame lineman to start opening day as a true freshman in decades. He has all of the talent to be a starter in the NFL.
But he’s young, and he hasn’t quite filled out yet.
Fisher is an investment. He can fill in for Garett Bolles or Mike McGlinchey in the next year or two. Bolles’ contract is up at the end of the year. The Broncos could easily get out of McGlinchey’s deal in a couple of years.
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