The Broncos will decline Garett Bolles‘ fifth-year option, according to Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). Instead of getting a guaranteed-for-injury 2021 salary of $11.064MM, Bolles will be ticketed for free agency after the 2020 season. 
[RELATED: 2021 Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
With that, Bolles will play out his original four-year rookie pact at a modest rate of $1.97MM. If he has a strong year, he’ll have an opportunity to cash in at a premium position, similar to D.J. Humphries. It’s not a terrible outcome for Bolles, even though he’s lost out on a bit of health insurance.
Bolles has had perfect attendance over the course of his three year career, appearing and starting in every possible game. At the same time, penalties have been a major problem for him.
“Well, it’s got to stop. Period. There are no more excuses for it,” GM John Elway said when asked about the flags back in September (via ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold). “He’s had 26 holding penalties in the last two years and two games, so it’s got to stop. The bottom line is if he thinks he’s getting singled out, he is. He’s got to understand that. He’s got to understand what he’s doing. And that was my question (to him last Sunday), ‘Does he know what holding is?’ Does he know what he can and can’t do?”
The Broncos will continue to work with him on his technique while putting him up against Elijah Wilkinson for the starting job. Last year, Bolles received 13 flags for holding.
I guess Broncos fans won’t have to hear “Holding……offense #72” that much longer unless if they hear it with him on another team.
Well, Elway has had back to back disasters with Donald Stephenson and Garrett Bolles so maybe the guy in the mirror should accept some blame too.
Absolute worst starting offensive lineman in the entire NFL. He has no business playing at LT. All the changes Elway made on the OL won’t make any difference if Bolles is still at LT this year.
Harsh
I know the penalties are annoying, but that’s not even close to true. He actually had a positive season outside of that and was given pretty high marks by PFF.
I have watched every snap he has played in the NFL. He’s horrible.
The problem is they wouldn’t get him to sign a penalty-based contract on holding calls, even if it worked.
I think a move to guard might be a better option for him. He was definitely a issue at LT.
Worked for Ereck Flowers, who was an absolute disaster at Left Tackle for the Giants and Jaguars, but did well as the Redskins as their Left Guard.