The Denver Broncos have one of the NFL’s top offensive lines, but the team also has a great group of backups behind the starters. When forming their 53-man roster for the upcoming season, the team kept Frank Crum for a second season in a row.
Crum, an undrafted free agent last year out of Wyoming, suited up for the team in six games last year. He’s still waiting for his first career start, but the Broncos seem to think they have a future option who could potentially turn into a starter. It seems that other teams around the league feel the same way.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton, when speaking to the media, revealed that three different teams have called on Crum to check on his availability. The Broncos obviously chose to hold onto him and likely see him as a piece of the team’s future.
“He’s been a player… we’ve had three teams call on him. And it’s the upside, and the size, and the athleticism.. his feet, his protection. We have a clear and a really good vision for what we think he can become, and that ceiling is high. And you can tell there are other teams doing their homework the same way”, said Payton.
Crum, a tackle by trade, could be seen as a future replacement for Mike McGlinchey. McGlinchey, now 30 years old, still has three years remaining on his contract, but he has struggled a bit at right tackle and it would be surprising to see him play out that deal. The Broncos could give Crum a look as a player who could replace him.
That’s all in the future, however. For now, the Broncos intend to continue developing Crum, but the fact that he’s been a part of the team’s 53-man roster and has yet to be placed on the practice squad — where he would be exposed to another team signing him — is a good sign that the Broncos know what they have.
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Crum, Matt Peart and Alex Palczewski will be the team’s top options to play the swing tackle position this season, should there be a need to relieve either McGlinchey or Garett Bolles.
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