Broncos roster: OL Mike McGlinchey (No. 69) is one of Bo Nix's top protectors
Before the Broncos: McGlinchey (6-8, 315 pounds) was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft out of Notre Dame. Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, McGlinchey immediately started all 16 games his rookie season and was named to the Pro Football Writers Association's All-Rookie Team. In 2019, McGlinchey appeared in and started 12 regular season games and all playoff games, helping San Francisco to Super Bowl LIV. In 2020, McGlinchey was again a constant on the offensive line, starting all 16 games he played in.
In 2021, McGlinchey began the year with eight starts in eight games, before suffering a quad injury that necessitated him being placed on injured reserve and shut down for the rest of the season in November. McGlinchey rebounded in 2022 starting all 17 games and three playoff games for the 49ers, helping them earn a berth in the NFC championship game. McGlinchey earned San Francisco's Ed Block Courage Award in that season as well.
Broncos tenure: In 2023, McGlinchey was brought in on a five-year contract worth $87.5 million by head coach Sean Payton as part of a revamp of the offensive line to try and protect then-quarterback Russell Wilson, who had suffered through a league-worst 55 sacks in 2022. McGlinchey helped Wilson to improve, but not much in 2023, to have 45 sacks.
In 2024, it was expected that the Broncos would see the same type of offensive quagmire that Wilson had brought, especially with a rookie quarterback at the helm. Instead, McGlinchey and the rest of the Broncos' offensive line helped Bo Nix only have 24 sacks last fall. McGlinchey missed nearly a month with an MCL sprain, but while he was in the lineup, McGlinchey started all 13 games he appeared in, along with Denver's playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Chances to make the 53-man roster: 100 percent. McGlinchey recently spoke about the offensive line's continuity, which will hopefully help Nix have an even better year in 2025. The unit also hopes to jumpstart one of the NFL's worst rushing attacks from 2024 into a more elite unit in 2025. McGlinchey is locked into the starting right tackle job, and he's a lock to make the active roster.
Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
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