Why did Sutton, Patrick re-do deals and not Bolles?
Both receivers restructured their contracts to free up cap space for Broncos
Q: Why did we re-structure the contracts of Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick and let Garett Bolles’ $20 million-plus go unchecked? Teddy Bridgewater was let down because of Bolles. Cut Bolles and get somebody who can block for a change.
Levi Trujillo, Denver
RO: It’s all about how the contracts were structured in the first place and in particular, when they were signed. Bolles is in Year 2 of his four-year deal so that is one fewer season to spread out the signing bonus money compared to Sutton, who is in Year 1 of his four-year contract.
This is a huge year for Bolles. He played well in 2020 to earn a new contract in late November of that season, but leveled off last year and missed time with an injury.
After this season, the Broncos can cut Bolles with a dead cap hit of $8 million and savings of $10 million.
Q: The AFC West is getting wild. The amount of talent landing here this offseason is absurd. I had the Chiefs at No. 1 and Broncos at No. 2 after the trade for Russell Wilson, but I don’t know anymore. How would you rank the AFC West? Can we see all four teams in the playoffs?
Marc, Arvada
RO: It is possible for all four teams to make the playoffs because one would be the division champion and the other three would be the wild cards (Nos. 5-7). But that probably won’t happen because the quartet of teams will cancel each other out. My division rankings:
1. Kansas City. The Chiefs belong atop the table so long as quarterback Patrick Mahomes remains healthy. The signing of Pittsburgh receiver Juju Smith-schuster was brilliant.
2. Broncos. The Wilson Effect moves them from last to second.
3. L.A. Chargers. Justin Herbert has top receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams back and the defense added pass rusher Khalil Mack and cornerback J.C. Jackson.
4. Las Vegas. The Raiders would be the favorite in the AFC South after adding receiver Davante Adams and pass rusher Chandler Jones.
Q: Tight ends come in two varieties: Blocking or pass-catching. Why bother with the blocking version and just use another offensive lineman?
David Brown, Silverthorne
RO: In a simplified NFL, a run play would call for a sixth lineman on the field and a pass play would call for 1-2 tight ends.
Why bother with a blocking tight end? Because those players can still run routes to create an element of being unpredictable. If you have a sixth lineman, you’re yelling, “We’re going to run it!” By having a tight end on the field, you can run or pass.
Asking a pass-catching tight end to block also gives the defense more to think about.
Q: In the Russell Wilson trade, Denver got a fourth-round pick and gave up a fifth. In a massive deal like this, what’s the point?
Ab, Las Vegas
RO: I asked Broncos general manager George Paton that very question.
“I love the fourth round,” he said. “I just kind of like the top of the fourth better than the top of the fifth. It was the final piece.”
The Broncos have two picks in the fourth round and one in the fifth round instead of one in the fourth and two in the fifth.