Garett Bolles is showing out this year.

Yes, it’s a contract year, but that just seems to be something which is perfectly timed for the left tackle, now in his fourth season with the Denver Broncos. He’s always had the size, the strength and the nastiness; now, Bolles has refined his game and is playing so well, he’s considered a top-5 tackle in 2020.

According to Pro Football Focus, he’s actually the No. 1 run-blocking tackle, and ranks in the top 10 in other categories as well:

This has continued all season long. Back up to Week 7, and he was still the second-best tackle with a 91.2 grade. While that has slipped slightly — he had three penalties in the loss to San Diego — an 89.6 grade is phenomenal halfway through the season.

To this point, while the Broncos offensive line has been a MASH unit including their second-best right guard and fourth-string right tackle, Bolles has been the anchor on the left side. At the halfway point of the season, he’s been called for a mere three penalties (two more have been declined/offsetting) which is a vast improvement from last year’s 17 infractions. In fact, he’s on pace to have around one-third as many penalties called on him this year.

That’s crucial to an offense’s production because holding penalties can negate superb runs and simultaneously frustrate teammates and fans. As for sacks, he’s allowed zero this year even with inexperienced signal-callers behind center.

“I think being with Mike [Munchak] a second year and having some comfortability with the coaching staff—I talk to him a lot—I just think that the maturation process has taken effect,” head coach Vic Fangio said in October of Bolles’ better play.

Along with Bolles, Dalton Risner has been phenomenal again this season, leaving the Broncos’ left side of the offensive line as their clear strength. Meanwhile, rookie center Lloyd Cushenberry has struggled to get his footing in the NFL and the right side has been a complete mess. The Broncos had to start Austin Schlottmann at right guard last game because Graham Glasgow was positive with COVID-19. And at right tackle, it was deep reserve lineman Jake Rodgers who allowed multiple pressures in the loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Simply, the Broncos have been waiting for four years to see this kind of play out of Bolles, and it’s a relief to see him playing so well because Denver needs his nastiness in the trenches. Of course, with Bolles eligible for a new contract after this season, it’s an unsure proposition whether he will be retained by the Broncos going forward or not.