Coach not too worried about LT position

phoenix» Boiled down, it’s a matter of supply and demand. Supply is low and demand is high, and the Broncos, as a result, are still in need of a true starter at left offensive tackle.

They let Russell Okung walk in free agency. They held onto Donald Stephenson, on a revised contract, and welcomed Menelik Watson. They have other linemen potentially capable of swinging to the left edge — Michael Schofield, Ty Sambrailo, Max Garcia, even — but no true second starter at tackle.

The pool of free-agent tackles was slim to begin with and is now scarce. The depth in the draft is weak and the top tackles may be gone before the Broncos pick at No. 20.

“They may not fall to us,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “We have to go into the draft with an open mind as far as taking the best player for our needs. It’s a combination of both. It’s not only the best player, but it’s your need. If there is a tackle there that has a first-round grade from us, that’s awesome.”

The Broncos’ options for filling that left tackle spot are slim.

“There are always options,” general manager John Elway said. “We still have many months in front of us to do the best we can to fill that.” Joseph doesn’t seem fazed. “I’m not surprised that we’re sitting here without a known left tackle. Stephenson has played some left; Watson has played some left tackle — so I’m not overly concerned with it.”

The Broncos, known to seek the value picks and acquisitions, are waiting for the right option to come available, trades included since they have 10 draft picks and about $16.1 million in salary cap space.

“We’ll have a solution. It’s not fixed yet but it doesn’t have to be fixed yet,” Elway said. “We’ll continue to work on it. We’re aware of that problem.”