The Broncos have signed veteran RT Demar Dotson, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was first to report (via Twitter). Mike Klis of 9News.com says that it’s a one-year, $3MM pact with $400K in guarantees.
Dotson, 34, is a UDFA success story. After going undrafted in 2009, he hooked on with the Buccaneers and ultimately spent 11 years in Tampa. He had been the club’s full-time starter at right tackle since the 2012 season.
He just completed the second of two contract extensions he signed with the Bucs after his rookie deal, and though he missed 18 games across the 2015-17 seasons, he started 15 contests in both 2018 and 2019. He has never received a Pro Bowl nod and has yet to play in a playoff game, but with 106 career starts to his credit, he provides Denver with a steady and experienced option at RT.
According to Klis, the plan is for Dotson to back up Elijah Wilkinson, who started 12 games at RT last year in the wake of Ja’Wuan James‘ injury problems and who will reprise that role in 2020 now that James has elected to opt out of the season. Dotson could step in should Wilkinson underperform or suffer an injury, and Wilkinson could shift over to the left side if LT Garett Bolles continues to struggle or sustains an injury of his own. Such a development would also open up a starting job for Dotson.
I can tell you right now that a healthy Dotson is an upgrade over Elijah Wilkinson at tackle. Wilkinson is more natural guard than tackle (though he is certainly not starting over Risner or Glasgow). Denver will likely get more out of this signing than James’ signing, which looks to be a big miss.
Yeah, it doesn’t make sense for Wilkinson to start over Dotson. Demar has graded out well with Tampa for years and while not spectacular, certainly has a higher floor. Wilkinson would work better as a depth piece that could plug and play anywhere on the offensive line. That way, no one would have to make a positional shift in the event of an injury
Agreed, 100%.
Don’t you mean Demar NISSAN ???
Nice reference. I’m curious to see how many people understand it on here
Seems like appreciation of my attempts at humor are largely unnoticed and unappreciated on this site.
One response about Josh Doctson being Josh Nissan.
I do appreciate them. Which is why I know you’ve used this one :). Cheesy as all get out, but I upvoted you.
Denver’s OL will continue to suck for as long as Bolles sees the field.