This includes players who have dedicated their whole careers to the team, such as veteran offensive lineman Garett Bolles, who is entering the final season of a four-year, $68 million deal extension signed in March 2020.
With Bolles expected to be a desirable free agent for practically the whole NFL to take a shot at, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine believes the Broncos might seek Bolles’ replacement in the 2025 NFL draft by picking the University of Minnesota’s 6-foot-6, 330-pound offensive lineman. Aireontae Ersery.
“Whether (the Broncos) only sign Bolles to a short-term contract or he opts to walk, the franchise should have a long-term plan in place,” said Ballentine. “Drafting Aireontae Ersery would help achieve that goal. He’s a powerful zone blocker in the run game and possesses the length and athleticism to be a starting left tackle in the league.”
A Kansas City native became a Big Ten star in overtime.
Ersery did not begin playing football until his sophomore year at Ruskin High School in Kansas City, Missouri, but he quickly rose through the ranks to become a 3-star recruit before joining Minnesota.
He played in 2020 before redshirting in 2021, earning All-Big Ten honours the previous two seasons and starting 33 consecutive games for the Golden Gophers, including all games in 2022 and 2023.
According to Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department, “Ersery has a well-rounded, lean build with long limbs, good play strength, and solid athletic ability.” Ersery is an experienced zone run blocker with good pace and feel for combination blocks, allowing him to get into proper fits, overtake, and release on time. He demonstrates good athletic ability by gaining ground laterally to cut off the backend, lining up backers on climbs, and pulling around the edge. Ersery demonstrates good competitive tenacity and physicality as a finisher who can strain and set the tone.”
Bolles has been one of the NFL’s best on the blind side.
While the Broncos have consistently failed to meet expectations—they haven’t made the playoffs since 2015—the same cannot be said for Bolles.
Bolles has performed well enough that the Broncos have not had to choose another offensive lineman in the first round since taking him out of Utah at No. 20 overall in the 2017 NFL draft. He received NFL All-Pro honours in 2020 and returned from a season-ending injury in 2022 after five games to start all 17 games for the Broncos in 2023, playing every offensive snap of the season (1,072 in total).
Now, with the Broncos at 6-5 and in control of their postseason destiny down the stretch in 2024, Bolles is positioning himself to be one of the NFL’s most sought-after free agents in 2025.
“The only real concern with Boles is his age, as he’ll turn 33 in May,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote on November 6. “With tackles like Trent Williams still playing in their 30s, it’s not a significant concern. Bolles should fight with Ronnie Stanley for the best tackle in the 2025 market. It’s also worth mentioning that Bolles was 25 when he entered the NFL, so he hasn’t seen as much wear as other lineman his age. The NFL has no shortage of tackle-needy teams.
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