The Denver Broncos are in a unique position in 2026. They are not only legitimate Super Bowl contenders but also, for all intents and purposes, seem to have a roster that’s built to last.
That roster won’t just automatically replenish itself, however, which is why Bleacher Report is pushing the Broncos to make a drastic move in the upcoming NFL draft and take an elite offensive tackle in the early rounds.
The Broncos have already traded away their 1st round pick (No. 30 overall) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
While the Broncos have 2 elite offensive tackles blocking for 3rd year quarterback offensive tackle Bo Nix, they’re both also over 30 years old. Nix is also coming off a serious injury — a fractured ankle suffered in the final seconds of an overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round.
“The Broncos are in a position where they want to future-proof their roster and extend their current contention window,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine wrote. “That means securing protection for Bo Nix beyond what 33-year-old Garett Bolles and 31-year-old Mike McGlinchey might be able to provide. Both are assets on the line right now, but the Broncos would be wise to add an understudy.”
Identifying 3 Possible Offensive Line Prospects
Bleacher Report identified 3 offensive tackle prospects who might fit best with the Broncos: Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, Boston College’s Jude Bowry, and Florida’s Austin Barber.
Forget about Iheanachor, who won’t be around when the Broncos finally pick at the end of the 2nd round, but Bowry and Barber could be real possibilities. Both have also shown the ability to play both tackle spots in college.
Bowry, 6-foot-5 and 314 pounds, made 23 starts over the last 2 seasons at left offensive tackle but played right offensive tackle as a freshman.
“Bowry is typically in the right place at the right time in protection,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “He has the feet to match edge speed but needs to improve hand usage and punch timing to firm up his outside edge/protect against bull rushers. He’s hit-or-miss as a drive blocker, but the hits carry force and movement. Inconsistencies are a concern, but Bowry is a plus athlete who could be targeted as a swing tackle on the second or third day of the draft.”
Barber, 6-foot-7 and 318 pounds, started 24 consecutive games at left offensive tackle to close out his career and started 32 total games at the position over the last 3 seasons. On some truly bad Florida teams, he found a way to stand out as well, earning All-SEC honors for the 1st time as a senior in 2025.
Broncos Could Feel Pressure to Draft Tight End
While there’s not really a chance of the Broncos trading back into the 1st round, if the right player drops to them in the 2nd round, they could very well end up drafting a tight end — most notably someone like Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers.
“An interesting note on Vanderbilt‘s Eli Stowers: While officially he’s a TE, several teams are evaluating him as a WR,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. “At 6-foot-4, 239, his build can be compared to Mike Evans. Stowers, by the way, visits the Broncos next week, and he’s done Rams, Titans, and Cowboys.”
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