The Broncos will be making key decisions soon to decide the breadth of their offensive line fix this off-season.

Denver’s first big decision will be what to do with left tackle Russell Okung and his $1 million option. Picking up Okung’s option by March 8 would kick in a four-year, $48 million contract with $20.5 million guaranteed. It would be a surprise if the Broncos did so based on Okung’s up-and-down play in 2016 but the weakness of the free agent market makes it a possibility.

Another option would be to see if Okung would accept a pay cut and restructure his contract. If Okung doesn’t go for that, he would likely find himself on the low-supply, high-demand left tackle free agent market hoping to receive more interest.

Cincinnati’s Andrew Whitworth, 35, is the only legitimate left tackle on the free agent market who could be considered an upgrade over Okung, 29. It’s also unwise to count on a rookie starting left tackle, particularly in a down offensive tackle draft class.

The Broncos could have more than $40 million in cap room when free agency begins March 9, but many teams are seeking offensive line upgrades. CBS salary cap analyst and former agent Joel Corry said the Broncos should consider offering Okung an $8 million a year restructure.

It’s unlikely Okung would accept that figure, which is equal to what he made in 2016 after playing time incentives are figured in. After proving he could stay healthy for 16 games with the Broncos, Okung, who negotiated his deal without an agent, would have little incentive to drastically decrease his pay. Kansas City’s Eric Fisher set the market for average-to-solid left tackles when he signed a four-year, $48 million extension with $22 million guaranteed in July.

That would leave Denver with four choices: begrudgingly pick up the option, exercise the transition tag between February 15 and March 1 for a one-year deal between $12-13 million, try to entice Okung to restructure at a happy medium or let him go.

The Broncos are expected to have multiple new starters on the offensive line when the 2017 season begins. Right tackle Donald Stephenson is a prime candidate to be released. If Okung is not retained, the Broncos will need to find two new bookend tackles. And, guards Michael Schofield and Max Garcia may need to fight to keep their starting roles, too.

There may be a desire for the Broncos to uproot most of the offensive line, but there’s also plenty of risk in that. Last season, the Broncos replaced four new starters and got worse.

New offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and new offensive line coach Jeff Davidson are evaluating the roster and determining needs. McCoy promised the line will be better under Davidson than it was last season. The Broncos will run a combination of power and zone (or as Davidson calls it “elephants on parade”) schemes.

“It’s going to be about us,” McCoy said. “What do our players do best?”

They hope an insurgence of new talent coupled with Davidson’s teaching will get more out of their drafted prospects – Garcia, Schofield, Matt Paradis, Ty Sambrailo, Connor McGovern – and whomever starts at offensive tackle.

Davidson said no decision has been made on Okung or Stephenson yet. But he did note that the new staff targets length, pass blocking ability and athleticism when evaluating offensive tackles.