By the time Denver Broncos offensive lineman Garett Bolles’ four-year, $68 million contract extension ended after the 2024 season, he could have commanded a higher deal elsewhere. After all, he already had one All-Pro selection and was the fifth-best tackle in terms of pass blocking last season (88.4), per Pro Football Focus.
There was some interest in Bolles coming from other AFC teams, such as the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, and the Kansas City Chiefs. However, in addition to talking to his wife, Natalie, Denver Post columnist Troy Renck revealed the foremost reason that made Bolles stay with the Broncos.
Renck wrote, “Truth is, Bolles did not have great leverage. If he departed as a free agent, his family would have stayed behind. Diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech, Kingston had settled into a routine. His progress outweighed all other factors.”
Kingston is Garett Bolles’ eight-year-old son. As Renck added, Natalie Bolles said, “King told his dad he wasn’t going. His school is amazing. His speech therapist is 15 minutes from our house. It took him a while to warm up to her, and we couldn’t start over with someone new.”
Hence, Bolles signed a four-year, $82 million contract extension last September. That deal keeps him under contract until 2028, when he turns 36. Among NFL left tackles, the former Snow College and University of Utah standout ranks fourth in terms of total contract value. He is also tied with the Titans’ Dan Moore for seventh in average contract value ($20.5 million).
Likewise, his third contract with Denver extends his tenure as the longest-tenured Broncos player. Finishing this contract, which starts this season, increases the probability of Bolles playing for only one NFL team.
Hard Work Turned Garett Bolles’ Career Around
The Broncos had high expectations for Bolles after selecting him 20th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft and giving him a four-year, $11 million rookie-scale contract. However, he struggled to live up to the hype in his first three seasons, as proven by having double-digit penalties in 2017 (15), 2018, and 2019 (17).
Those penalties might have been the determining factor for the Broncos to decline his fifth-year option. However, as the world dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, Garett Bolles went to work to become an elite left tackle.
As Renck wrote, “With Natalie as the edge rusher, Bolles refined his footwork and hand placement in the living room and front yard. He earned second-team All-Pro honors. That led to his second contract.”
Bolles played a massive part in Bo Nix’s success during the quarterback’s rookie season. As Renck pointed out, Bolles surrendered only two sacks in 476 dropbacks. Protecting Nix’s blind side at an elite level earned him an 80 overall PFF grade, the second-highest mark in eight seasons.
Bolles Remains an Old Reliable for the Broncos
While Garett Bolles isn’t getting any younger, he remains one of the Broncos’ cornerstones. He’s also an inspiration for younger Broncos players, showing them that determination can take them places.
As Bolles enters his ninth NFL season with Denver, PFF honored his game by including him in their Top 30 Players Over 30 list, ranking him 22nd. PFF’s Dalton Wasserman wrote, “Now in his ninth year protecting Denver’s blind side, Bolles remains one of the league’s most dependable pass blockers. … Over the past five seasons, his 89.2 pass-blocking grade ranks seventh among qualified tackles.”
As the Broncos embrace the new role as playoff contenders, the protection Bolles provides for his 15th starting quarterback remains essential.
