Fifth in a series previewing the Broncos’ 2025 roster in the weeks leading up to the start of training camp in late July. Previous: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends.
On the roster (16): Alex Forsyth, Joe Michalski, Luke Wattenberg, Nick Garguilo, Ben Powers, Calvin Throckmorton, Clay Webb, Quinn Meinerz, Will Sherman, Garett Bolles, Marques Cox, Frank Crum, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Matt Peart, Xavier Truss
How many on the 53? Phew. Somewhere between 8 and 10, most likely; the Broncos opened with nine last year. Last year’s starters in Wattenberg, Powers, Meinerz, Bolles and McGlinchey take up five spots right there, and the Broncos have solid depth in offseason re-signee Peart and youngsters Crum and Garguilo.
Most impactful offseason move: Keeping everyone.
Blanket statement because this means everyone. Every single Bronco offensive lineman that played a snap in 2024, as printed in this space multiple times before, is back for 2025. It’s a tremendous ground-level foundation for a franchise that’s trying to climb heights it hasn’t seen in a decade, and the Broncos’ effort to simply run it back is a major benefit for second-year quarterback Bo Nix.
Most faces in the room were already entrenched in long-term deals, but the Broncos did work quickly in free agency to bring back reserve tackle Matt Peart on a two-year deal. They didn’t take anyone in this year’s draft, but signed a number of promising UDFA roster candidates, Jacksonville State product Webb and Georgia alumnus Truss to name two.
Biggest question to answer in camp: Can this group do it again?
There aren’t many questions to answer when you return every piece of an offensive line that ranked first (per ESPN) in both pass-block win rate and run-block win rate in 2024. But whether they can repeat that will be the main question for this group this fall.
The Broncos went out and got the skill talent this offseason — from Evan Engram to J.K. Dobbins, from RJ Harvey to Pat Bryant — to elevate an offense that put up a clunker in their wild-card round loss to the Buffalo Bills. If their front is similarly dominant in 2025, it’ll raise this franchise’s ceiling exponentially. But Bolles, McGlinchey and Powers are all starting to collect some tread on their tires, and the Broncos’ line was largely blessed with good health last year. If they can simply enter the season with their starting fivesome fresh, Denver will be sitting pretty.
Battle to watch: Garett Bolles-led waterbottle fights.
“When we’re in practice, we’re joking, having a good time, spraying each other with water — well, it’s mostly me spraying with water,” Bolles cracked of the room last month.
Kidding. There’ll be a plenty interesting fight for two-deep spots, with a lot of talented bodies in this room. Peart and Crum seem entrenched as the Broncos’ backup tackles, and Forsyth filled in for Wattenberg for a few games at center last year with injury. Backup guard spots, then, are likely the most up for grabs; returners like Garguilo, Throckmorton, and Sherman will have to jockey for reps.
Under-the-radar player: Crum.
He only got eight snaps offensively last year as a rookie, but Crum making the roster last year after going undrafted was a pretty big surprise. Payton called him “extremely athletic” in offseason workouts, and Crum has the size (6-foot-7) and bend to be an impact tackle in the NFL. If — forbid — Bolles or McGlinchey miss any time this year, Crum could position himself in camp to be in line for some reps.
