Despite flurry of free agency and draft moves, Broncos’ roster lacks depth – ESPN – AFC West

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Even though the Denver Broncos waved around the league’s biggest checkbook in free agency and tried to make the most of five draft picks, they approach rookie minicamp camp this week with many of the same problems they had headed into the offseason.

The Broncos have spent $241.4 million — the most in the NFL — in free agency so far, but there are still parts of the Broncos’ roster thin enough for the light to shine through.

Broncos general manager George Paton called the post-draft search for depth “ongoing and it never stops.’’ A position that Broncos coach Sean Payton has tagged as one of the most important in the team’s quest to end a seven-year playoff drought — the offensive line — is a concern.

“[Hall of Fame coach] Bill [Parcells] felt the offensive line was one of the most important positions on your roster because it permeated the building,’’ Payton said. “He didn’t say it had to be done in the draft or in free agency, but he just felt like that position group was important. Regardless of his philosophy and my exposure to Bill — when George and I started … that was a focus for us in upgrading and getting our team better.’’

It’s no accident the league’s worst offense in 2022 (16.9 points per game) with a quarterback who was sacked a league-most 55 times has seen the most change, especially in the offensive line. Tackle Mike McGlinchey (five years, $87.5 million) and guard Ben Powers (four years, $51.5 million) received the Broncos’ two biggest free agent deals.

Players who started a combined 128 games in the offensive line for the Broncos over the past four seasons, and made 57 combined starts in 2022 alone, are gone. That total includes players who started games last season- at left tackle, right tackle, center and left guard.

Guard Dalton Risner, who is an unsigned free agents, had 62 of those starts and Graham Glasgow had 37. As one of the league’s general managers put it this past week: “If it was me, I’d be nervous, but it takes time every time…