The Denver Broncos may have knocked their draft out of the park, but the one thing they didn’t do is take a guard early on to address that glaring need.

Yes, Denver selected Colorado native Sam Jones out of Arizona State in the sixth round, and yes, they have Connor McGovern — a 2016 5th round pick — but are either of them talented enough to start the entire 2018 season for the Broncos?

That’s a huge question mark going forward. And the answer to the Broncos needs is waiting in the wings in free agent guard Jahri Evans.

Evans may be turning 35 soon, but the 12-year veteran was more than serviceable last year for the Green Bay Packers. According to Pro Football Focus, Evans was the 30th-best guard in the NFL last season, graded at a 71.7 overall. He started 14 games for the Packers — after playing 11 seasons with the New Orleans Saints — and Evans was called for a mere 3 penalties all year long.

Evans was once one of the best guards in the NFL — being named a four-time first-team All-Pro from 2009-2012 — and while he’s a few years past that prime, he would still be a massive upgrade for the Broncos.

Denver’s done a lot to revamp the offensive line lately. They drafted Garett Bolles in the first round last year, signed Ronald Leary to play one of the guard spots, went through a failed experiment with Menelik Watson at right tackle and recently signed Jared Veldheer to play at RT this year. And at center, Matt Paradis was re-signed smartly to a one-year RFA tender, and he’s been the most consistent player on Denver’s o-line for years.

In fact, Paradis has been the best offensive lineman John Elway’s drafted, hands-down.

McGovern and Adams — and likely Max Garcia, too — will compete for that starting guard spot opposite of Leary, but are any of the former Elway draftees good enough to start an full, grueling season?

The Broncos spent big bucks this offseason on Case Keenum, giving him a two-year, $36 million deal, and now Denver needs to protect him. Last year, Denver gave up 52 sacks, which was tied for third-worst in the league with the Arizona Cardinals. One common theme with the worst teams at allowing sacks last year? Losing records.

With Denver (5-11), Arizona (8-8), and the two worse teams in Houston (4-12) and Indianapolis (4-12) the combined records are 21-43. In this NFL, you must protect the quarterback to find success.

In the Mile High City, the importance of finding a solid offensive line doesn’t end with protecting Keenum. The Broncos understand they need to run to support Keenum — whose 22 TDs / 7 INT ratio suggest he’s more a game manager than stud — and Denver’s done much to revamp their running backs already this offseason.

The orange and blue cut ties with C.J. Anderson, and saved $4.5 million in the process, and then drafted punishing runners Royce Freeman and David Williams. They also signed former CU star Phillip Lindsay as a UDFA, and all three of them will compete for the starting running back spot against Devontae Booker and De’Angelo Henderson this year.

Before any of those talented, young backs can gain big yards, Denver’s offensive line has got to be a solid, consistent, starting five.

As of now, the Broncos have a solid four, and Evans would be the perfect, stop-gap starter for one year in Denver.