The Broncos made two selections in the second round of this year’s NFL draft. Quarterback Drew Lock has drawn most of the headlines and receives most of the media attention but the team’s other second-round pick will probably have a much larger role in 2019.
Dalton Risner has been practicing with the first-team offense at left guard and he seems poised to start in Week 1. His workmanlike mentality has drawn respect from his veteran teammates.
“He works his [butt] off. I love him,” right guard Ron Leary said of Risner after practice on June 5. “He doesn’t complain too much. He just comes to work. He’s always asking questions. I like him because he wants to be great.
“You have a lot of young guys these days coming in and think they’ve got it figured out and know it all. He’s the complete opposite. He hits me up at night because when we watch film he asks me questions about things like that. He’s a great guy, a great addition to the room.”
Things could change during training camp, but right now Denver’s projected starting offensive line (from left to right) is Garett Bolles, Risner, Connor McGovern, Leary and Ja’Wuan James. If those players stay healthy, they have the potential to form the best offensive line the Broncos have had in recent memory.
