The Denver Broncos have what appears to be the best defense in the NFL, but the team is going to need the offense to get much better before any talk of a serious playoff run can be had.
The Broncos have been all over the place offensively this season, but on Thursday night against the Las Vegas Raiders, the unit looked like it was stuck in mud. While there are likely several factors to blame, the offensive line has not been the same since Ben Powers went down with a biceps injury in Week 5.
The Broncos inserted Matt Peart into the lineup in his place, but he was injured during that game. Alex Palczewski is now in that spot, but the team could use another option. The name of Joel Bitonio was tossed around ahead of the trade deadline, but now that the date has passed for teams to make deals, looking at players on the free-agent market would be the only option for the team.
It is believed that Powers will have a chance to rejoin the team at some point this season, but adding a veteran free agent could make some sense. Looking at some bargain free agents now that the trade deadline has passed, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report mentions the name of Cody Whitehair. Here was his analysis:
"In a free-agent market that is severely lacking in offensive-line talent, Cody Whitehair stands out as a particularly intriguing option.
The 33-year-old has never been a top-tier starter, but he did make the Pro Bowl in 2018 and has a ton of experience.
Whitehair has 121 starts on his resume and has played both center and guard during his career. That positional versatility could earn him looks from multiple teams.
A 2016 second-round pick by Chicago, he played for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, appearing in 12 games with three starts. He had a workout with the Saints in August.
Whitehair would be a logical target for the Detroit Lions, who lost center Frank Ragnow to retirement in the offseason and recently placed guard Christian Mahogany on injured reserve.
The Denver Broncos would also make a lot of sense. They've lost guards Ben Powers and Matt Peart to injuries. They also happen to employ assistant offensive line coach Chris Morgan, who was Whitehair's line coach for two seasons in Chicago."
Drafted in the second round in 2016, Whitehair is a nine-year NFL veteran. He spent eight seasons with the Chicago Bears before playing for the Las Vegas Raiders last season. He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2018 season.
Whitehair is 33 years old and has been out of the NFL this season. But he has 121 career starts under his belt and could be a good extra insurance policy as an interior offensive lineman, should the Broncos need one. It would at least be worth a look to have him come in for a workout.
The Broncos are likely to stick with what they have while waiting for Powers to get healthy enough to return. However, if there are any other setbacks between now and then, Whitehair would be a good emergency option.
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