AFC Notes: Broncos, Chargers, Jets

Broncos

While the Broncos’ offensive line has helped RB Phillip Lindsay during back-to-back thousand yard seasons, there will still be an open competition between Garett Bolles and Elijah Wilkinson at left tackle due to Bolles’ struggles and the fact that he accrued 20 holding penalties last season. It also remains to be seen how OC Pat Shurmur will use both Lindsay and free-agent addition Melvin Gordon.

“You want to see the consistency during practice and what we’re doing, and what’s the best fit,” OL Coach Mike Munchak said of the offensive line, via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. “When you’re trying to find the best five, a lot of it is how they communicate, how they work together. You’d rather be in the position where I know who the five guys are right now. Unfortunately, not having the spring, it’s just going to speed things up a little bit, but I think we’ll have plenty of time and work time just to see how they fit together.”

Munchak also spoke about G Graham Glasgow, who joined the Broncos as a free agent in the offseason after a successful stint with the Detroit Lions.

“He’s gotten better every year he’s played in the league,” Munchak said of Glasgow. “Versatility-wise, even though we’re thinking he’s a guard for us, I just think he’s a consistent player. He’s coming into the best of his career. I always thought he’d be a great fit and would bring some leadership, and he’s a guy that’s only going to his fifth year. We’re excited. Just watching his tape a lot and watching his mannerisms and how he handles the meetings, (he’s) a real smart kid. … People are going to love watching him play.”

Munchak plans to have rookie Lloyd Cushenberry compete with Patrick Morris and Austin Schlottmann for the open center position. Cushenberry is coming off of a stellar season at LSU where he was the team’s MVP during their National Championship win.

“He’s a special type of player. He’s got great size, great length,” Munchak said. “He’s played more center, but he can definitely play guard at 310, 315, and (has) long arms. … The question is how quickly can he come in and be that guy and all that. He’ll have a chance to prove that. When you add a guy of his caliber to your offensive line, you’re excited. He’s a nice piece to the puzzle and he brings versatility, the fact that he can play, probably all three spots inside. He’s more comfortable at center right now so we’ll start him there and let him compete with Austin and Pat.”

Chargers

• Field Yates of ESPN proposes the Vikings trade OT Riley Reiff (and agree to pay $3.8 million of his 2020 base salary) to the Chargers for CB Desmond King II.
• Yates explains that the Vikings drafted Ezra Cleveland to be the heir apparent to Reiff. Beyond that, Minnesota is in a tough cap situation right now, so moving Reiff would give them some cap flexibility.
• The Vikings have been retooling their secondary this offseason and King would give them a versatile defensive back to move around where needed.
• Yates adds that the Chargers still have a hole at left tackle and Reiff is owed up to $18.85 million over the next year years and is still only 31 years old.
• The Chargers have added to their secondary this offseason to the point where there’s at least some question about how much playing time King will have in 2020.

Jets

• Despite his young age, Ralph Vacchiano says that QB Sam Darnold will be under the most pressure on the Jets roster this season.
• Vacchiano adds that Darnold must play well and lead the team into a positive position in order to prove that he is a franchise quarterback worth a large contract extension.