Oct 8, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of a White Cap edition Denver Broncos helmet worn by Denver Broncos punter Riley Dixon (9) before game against the New York Jets at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos have just eight picks in the 2024 NFL Draft and with so much change in the organization and unknowns with Sean Payton entering Year 2, the organization is in desperate need of all the assets it can acquire. .
In order to acquire more draft capital, Payton and the Broncos front office may have to continue parting ways with their All-Pro offensive linemen, Garrett Bolles.
Nothing is guaranteed in the world of professional sports. The NFL is a business, yet Bolles has expressed his desire to remain in the Mile High City.
Garrett Bolles told Mike Klis of 9NEWS Denver at the NFL Honors that he would love to be part of the Denver Broncos organization “for life.”
I’d love to be in Denver,” Bolles told Klis on the red carpet at the February 8 ceremony. “It’s where my kids grew up. It’s where my wife is. It’s where they go to school. But at the same time the Good Lord knows where I need to be. It is a business.”
Following the offseason release of veteran safety Justin Simmons, Bolles is the longest-tenured Denver Broncos player. The Utah product commented that he loves everything about the organization and is “very grateful” to be in Denver.
“I think it speaks volumes for a player who can play his entire career with one team,” Bolles said.
Bolles has never experienced the postseason since being selected 20th overall in the 2017 NFL draft. The Broncos have missed the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons since winning the 2016 Super Bowl.
Proposed Trade Sends Garrett Bolles To The Green Bay Packers For Several Draft Picks
John Buhler of FanSided proposed Denver ship All-Pro offensive tackle Garett Bolles to the Green Bay Packers for three 2024 draft picks as the organization attempts to revamp its roster.
The Broncos would hypothetically receive the Packers’ first-round pick (No. 25 overall), second-round pick (No. 58) and sixth-round pick (No. 202) in this year’s draft. Buhler acknowledged this trade “accelerates Denver’s rebuilding process.”
“Trading Bolles to Green Bay would further illustrate that Denver has begun an honest rebuilding effort,” Buhler wrote in his April 5 article. “It may not work out well for general manager George Paton. How sure are we that head coach Sean Payton will want to stick around for that? He did briefly retire because he wasn’t interested in doing that when he previously coached the New Orleans Saints only a few years ago.”
Garret Bolles would make sense for the Green Bay Packers as the team moved on from five-time All-Pro OT David Bakhtiari on March 11. Buhler argued that trading Bolles to a contender is smart given Denver’s chances this season.
The Green Bay Packers are an ascending young team and would give Bolles a legitimate opportunity to win a Super Bowl that’s seemed like a distant hope during his time with the Denver Broncos.
Quarterback Jordan Love threw 32 touchdowns to 11 interceptions as he guided Green Bay to a 9-8 record in his first year as the full-time starter. Love led the Packers to the Divisional Round before losing 24-21 to the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers.
Several NFL analysts expect Green Bay to challenge the 49ers for NFC supremacy during the 2024 campaign, but there’s no doubt the franchise will be on the hunt for a premier left tackle — either in the draft or via trade or free agency — that can protect their young quarterback’s blind side for the next several years.
Assuming the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos agree to a trade for Bolles in tow, Love will be in excellent shape heading into year two as a starter. This feels like a possibility that may actually happen.
Sean Labar is a sports writer who has covered the NFL and college football for 12+ years. Since graduating from Towson University with a degree in journalism, he has worked & written for the Washington Nationals, Sports Illustrated, On3, Saturday Down South and OutKick amongst other national media outlets and websites.
Sean joined Gridiron Heroics in 2023 to focus on NFL and college football coverage. He primarily focuses on the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders.
On the college scene, he covers the Alabama Crimson Tide, Ole Miss Rebels, Colorado Buffaloes, Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines.
Sean currently resides in Virginia with his two rescue pups, Wally & Reagan.