ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Garett Bolles is entering the final year of his contract with the Denver Broncos and doesn’t have a single dollar of guaranteed money left on his deal.
For many NFL players, that combination is a big issue.
For many NFL players, that combination would lead to a hold out, hold in or even a trade demand.
The longest tenured Bronco, however, is taking nearly the complete opposite approach.
“I love this city and I love this organization. I want to play my whole career here. The front office knows that. They know I want to be a Bronco for life,” Bolles stated after the team’s third training camp practice on Friday, when asked about his contract situation.
“My family is here and established here. We love it here. We don’t want to go anywhere else,” the 32-year old added. “My job is to just play good football and the ball is in their court. I just have to do my job and the rest will take care of itself.”
Denver’s franchise left tackle isn’t playing hardball with the Broncos’ front office. In fact, it would appear he’s okay with giving the team a little bit of an upper hand in the negotiations.
“They know I want to be here,” Bolles said once again. “There’s no—I’ve addressed that to them– they know that, but at the same time I can’t worry about that. I just have to do my job. Me and Coach [Sean] Payton have a unique relationship. We’re super close and we talk. He just tells me to focus on the things that I need to focus on. That’s just being a good father, being a good husband, being a good son and then playing good football. If I can focus on those things just like I did in 2020, it worked out good for me.”
After the Broncos declined Bolles’ fifth-year option in the spring of 2020, the former first-round pick landed a massive four-year, $68 million extension with the team just a few months later in the midst of an All-Pro season.
Bolles’ average of $17 million per year currently puts his as the 20th-paid tackle, left and right, in the NFL. On Denver’s offensive line, he trails Mike McGlinchey and Quinn Meinerz.
A new deal for Bolles isn’t expected to reset the tackle market, which is currently held by Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell at $28 million per year. But despite being 32-years old, it could still be a very large deal.
“I think the thing that’s going for me for me is that I haven’t played football for that long. I didn’t play that much in college. My body’s fresh. I feel like I’m 25 to be honest with you. Maybe even 22, sometimes probably a little bit younger,” Bolles said, explaining why he’s a young 32. “I feel great. My body feels great, my mind feels great. I’m humbled to get better every year. I feel like that’s what I’ve been doing.”
There’s one other reason Bolles would love to keep his roots in Denver for the long term. “Any day now” he and his wife are expecting their third child.
“A little baby girl,” Bolles said with a smile. “That’ll be super fun—number three. Like I said, my family grew up here. I became a man here. I love it here. My family’s just going to continue to grow here, and hopefully I can stay here as long as I can.”
Despite Bolles’ teammate Courtland Sutton missing OTAs as he looked for a new contract, that was never a consideration for Denver’s left tackle.
“This team counts on me, so any time that we have voluntary or team meetings or whatever it is, I’m going to be the first one there,” Bolles stated.
The longest tenured Bronco doesn’t want his time in the Mile High City to end. And he’s making it abundantly clear to everyone.
