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One prospect who the Denver Broncos have been showing interest in and may consider in the first-round of the 2017 NFL Draft is former Utah offensive tackle, Garett Bolles. He is a 6'5", 297lb and is considered one of, if not the best offensive tackle in the entire draft. Bolles is ranked as the 31st overall prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft according to CBS Sports and is ranked as the second-best offensive tackle prospect in the draft.
Garett Bolles
Offensive tackle, Junior, Utah
Height: 6'5" Weight: 297lbs 40 time: 4.95 seconds
Arm Length: 34" Hands: 9 3/8"
Bench Press: N/A Vertical Jump: 28 inches
Broad Jump: 115.0 inches(Top performer in his positional group at the Combine) 3 Cone Drill: 7.29 seconds (Top performer in his positional group at the Combine)
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.55 seconds (Top performer in his positional group at the Combine)
Film Room:
Scouting Report:
Strengths:
- Top-notch athletic ability for an offensive tackle
- Moves well and smooth and has good feet for an offensive lineman
- Mirrors edge rushers well because of his athleticism
- Initial powerful punch
- Aggressive and has a mean streak to him
- Good knee bend
- Good balance
- Plays through the whistle
- Dominated top competition in his only year at Utah
- Perfect fit for a zone-blocking scheme
- Will be a 25-year-old rookie
- Only played one season at Utah so he's a one-year wonder
- Scheme specific and likely zone only.
- Needs to hit the weight room and fill out
- Lacks core strength
- Rough upbringing and some minor character concerns but has matured
- Needs work on his technique
- Will be 30 years old once his rookie contract ends
Does Garett Bolles make sense for the Broncos?
I don't see it.
if Gary Kubiak was still the Head Coach I would say he would be a perfect fit, but now? I don't know. Mike McCoy and Jeff Davidson figure to have more of a power element to their blocking scheme this year, so I am unsure if Bolles is the right fit or not. I understand they will have elements of both, I think he's zone only.
Also, he will be a 25-year-old rookie. There are free agents with expiring rookie contracts on the free agent market who are younger than Bolles right now. By the time he finally hits his prime, he will be 27. 28, 29 years old, and if taken in the first round, he will be 30 years old when his rookie contract expires.
That doesn't sit well with me, especially for a first-round offensive tackle. Second round sure, but not first round.
You also worry about his core strength. He didn't lift at the combine and needs to hit the weight room once he gets to the NFL. I worry he will struggle with NFL-caliber players like Ty Sambrailo has. Both were very athletic tackles who lacked core strength and needed to hit the weight room.
I know the Broncos currently need a left tackle and Bolles could be that guy, but I wouldn't touch him in the first round.