Garett Bolles went from first-round bust to NFL’s Most Improved Player candidate in 2020.
Ever since being drafted 17th overall in 2017, the microscope has been focused closely on Bolles because the left tackle position is arguably the second-most important to an offense only to quarterback.
The left tackle is often out on an island against physically dominant edge rushers, saving the valuable quarterback from being blind-side sacked, stripped and/or injured. And after struggling to find consistency in terms of pass protection for three years, everything seemed to click for Bolles in 2020.
That’s why he’s a certain candidate for Most Improved, and has a case even with Alex Smith coming back to the NFL this year.
Let’s look back to his early career to give context to his great growth this year.
As a rookie, Bolles allowed career-highs with 8 sacks and 51 pressures, along with 15 penalties. The tackle was known for not only for giving up too many sacks for most of his career, but also those egregious penalties. Sometimes he’d hold when the Broncos enjoyed a solid passing or running play, and it would be called back. Other times, he’s let his anger get the best of him and get called for personal fouls.
Without a doubt, the combination of too many penalties and pressures/sacks led to a frustrated Broncos fanbase.
From his worst year to an incremental improvement in Year 2; Bolles was called for 13 penalties, gave up 29 pressures but only allowed 2 sacks.
Then, in 2019, the Broncos hired offensive line guru Mike Munchak who was hoped to solve Bolles’ issues of inconsistency. And while there were a few bright spot games here and there, the tackle ended that year with a career-high 17 penalties — second-most in the NFL — allowing 4 sacks on 31 pressures.
Basically everyone in Broncos Country was over the Bolles experiment, chalking it up to a bust three years in.
Then, it happened.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Bolles snapped, in a good way. At the end of the win over the Jets, Bolles stood up for his quarterback Brett Rypien when New York hit the youngster many times late in the game. His leadership showed in that moment and continued throughout the year in his play.
In 2020, Bolles was hands-down Denver’s best offensive lineman. While it should be noted that penalties were down in the NFL on the whole this year, Bolles’ penalties against were the lowest of his career at a mere 7. That means he went from second-worst in the league to 9th-best in one year.
Continuing the stellar play trend, Bolles only gave up 13 pressures this season — which was by-far the best of his career — and zero sacks.
And another way to see his vast improvement is through Pro Football Focus’ grades.
He earned a 72.9 grade as a rookie, 72.8 as a sophomore, went up to 76.1 in Year 3 before blowing up with an “elite” 90.3 grade from PFF this year.
In PFF’s rating system, it’s a 0-100 scale with anything 90-plus being elite. 70-84 is “starter” level while 85-89 is considered “Pro Bowl” level.
Bolles’ 90.3 grade was third-best among all tackles and second-best at his left side, making him a second-team All-Pro for PFF.
The Broncos’ blossoming anchor at left tackle was also awarded second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press.
Think about that; Bolles went from likely looking for a new team this offseason and being one of the worst starting tackles in the NFL, to arguably the best in the league this year.
It’s time to celebrate his individual success, Broncos Country.
He earned a four-year extension which will keep him in the Mile High City through 2024, right through the prime of his career. If they’re lucky, Bolles will continue to succeed over the course of that time.
