Kiz: If pent-up frustration in Broncos Country has a face, it’s that persecuted look on the mug of offensive tackle Garett Bolles when he’s penalized for holding. Every fan in the stadium knows his number, for all the wrong reasons. “The hard thing is that Garett is under the microscope,” said John Elway, who drafted Bolles in the first round. “He’s under the microscope, and any time (the officials) say ‘72,’ it brings down the whole stadium.” So I gotta ask: The Broncos can’t possibly bring Bolles back as a starter next season, can they?

O’Halloran: Sorry to be a New Year’s buzzkill, but it would be surprising if Bolles isn’t the left tackle in Week 1 of 2020. The offseason question revolves around Elway’s call on picking up Bolles’ 2021 contract option (guaranteed only for injury). That deadline is usually a week after the draft. Pick it up and it’s a nod of approval to Bolles’ progress. Don’t pick it up and the Broncos are telling Bolles, “OK, pal, you’re playing for your future.” His statistics were better in the second half of the season. In the first eight games, I booked him for 14 “disruptions” (sacks + knockdowns + pressures), including five sacks. In the last eight games, I had him for eight “disruptions,” including no sacks. But the penalties are still the issue. Bolles led the league in holding calls (13/six enforced) and had 17 total penalties (seven enforced).

Kiz: By holding on to beat the Raiders in the last seconds of the final regular-season game, Denver dropped to the middle of the first round in the 2020 draft (No. 15 overall). Nobody compares me to Mel Kiper Jr. (thank goodness), but it seems that this class of college prospects is rich in offensive line talent. Elway kept shaking the trees until he found a quarterback in Drew Lock. Do you think Elway would take another shot at finding an elite left tackle with a first-round pick?

O’Halloran: Winning four of their last five games pushed the Broncos out of position to get one of the top offensive tackles. Elway would have to trade up to get a chance to take Alabama’s Jedrick Wills (a right tackle), Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and maybe even USC’s Austin Jackson. That could also go into the thinking of Elway and coach Vic Fangio complimenting Bolles on his late-season play and overall durability (didn’t miss a snap). Their best option may be the in-house option.

Kiz: Despite their 4-1 December, the Broncos are not one player away from Super Bowl contention. With so many roster needs to address, it seems as if Elway wants to give offensive line guru Mike Munchak another year to work his magic on Bolles. But at such a critical position on the field, it might behoove the Broncos to admit their mistake and move on. Would it be possible for Denver to solve its issues at left tackle in the trade market?

O’Halloran: I looked at the 12 playoff teams and how they acquired their starting left tackle. Only one (Minnesota’s Riley Reiff) was signed in free agency, but three were traded to their current teams — Jason Peters (Philadelphia), Duane Brown (Seattle) and Laremy Tunsil (Houston). Making a trade for disgruntled left tackle Trent Williams, for example, would cost the Broncos their first-round pick … and then other stuff. Five playoff left tackles were first-round picks like Bolles. If the Broncos had to declare their 2020 Left Tackle Plan today, my guess is Elway wants to give Munchak another year to work with Bolles.