Summary

Garett Bolles was selected in Round 1 (#20 Overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of Utah. A former junior college standout who developed rapidly at the Power Five level, Bolles entered the NFL with elite athletic traits and movement skills for an offensive tackle. At Utah, he earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors and was widely viewed as one of the most athletic offensive linemen in his draft class. Despite a rocky start in the NFL, Bolles has grown into a long-term starter and leader on Denver’s offensive line. Through the 2024 season, he has started 100+ career games, protecting the blind side in a variety of offensive systems. His best season came in 2020, when he earned Second-Team All-Pro honors after allowing minimal pressures and penalties. Bolles is widely regarded as a high-character, resilient, and professional veteran, praised for perseverance, work ethic, accountability, and leadership after overcoming early-career struggles. His personal growth and maturity have made him a respected locker-room presence and team captain-caliber figure.

Strengths

• Elite Athleticism: Outstanding movement skills for a left tackle. Smooth kick-slide in his pass sets and handles speed rushers effectively.

• Mirror Ability: Stays square and balanced against wide rush paths. More than athletic enough to recover when initially stressed.

• Second-Level Mobility: Excellent climbing to linebackers and working in space.

• Zone-Run Fit: Ideal for outside-zone and stretch concepts.

Weaknesses

• Penalty Magnet: Earlier-career holding tendencies still require vigilance. Has now migrated to more pre-snap/procedural penalty liability.

• Sand in the Pants: Boasts a more sleight lower body and his anchor can be challenged by elite bull rushers.

• Leverage Consistency: Tall frame can lead to pad-level issues. Can revert to waist bending muscle memory when stamina declines throughout game.

• Inside Counters: Susceptible if oversetting against speed. His hand placement and technique has improved over time but still room to grow in this capacity.

Outlook

Bolles is an excellent fit for athletic, zone-based offensive systems that emphasize movement, play-action, and quarterback mobility. In Denver, his ability to protect the blind side while executing wide-zone run concepts provides critical structural value to the offense. Bolles’ athleticism allows the offense to expand the playbook with bootlegs, screens, and extended protection plays. Looking ahead, Bolles projects as a high-quality starting left tackle with continued value as long as athleticism remains intact. While power rushers will require occasional help, his experience, technique growth, and professionalism give him a high floor and reliable performance profile. For Denver, Bolles remains a foundational offensive lineman, capable of anchoring the line, mentoring younger players, and providing stability for quarterback development.