Max

Garcia

Garcia, a former fourth-round draft pick by the Broncos, started 11 games for Arizona in 2021. He has 39 regular season starts at left guard, nine at right guard, and four at center over his seven years in the league. He joins a New York offensive line graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s third worst pass-blocking unit in 2021.

The 28-year-old made seven appearances in 2019, zero of which were starts. An ex-starter with the Broncos, Garcia should be able to keep his 53-man roster spot for another season.

Garcia is nine months removed from last year’s torn ACL. He’ll miss at least the first six games if he opens the season on reserve/PUP. Garcia was a three-year starter in Denver, but he’ll be returning to a backup role when healthy.

A fourth-round pick in 2015, Garcia started 41 games for the Broncos across four seasons before tearing his ACL during practice last November. That injury will limit Garcia’s availability during his first offseason in Arizona, but the Cardinals have enough holes along the offensive line that he should be able to compete for a starting job.

Garica took every rep at Thursday’s practice but felt some discomfort and scans revealed the devastating injury. Garcia was filling in for Ronald Leary, who tore his Achille’s in Week 6. Already without C Matt Paradis (leg, I.R.), this Denver offensive line is in shambles as LT Garett Bolles has been a first-round whiff to this point. Billy Turner is expected to take over at left guard.

Garcia was a fourth-round pick last year and played 587 snaps as a rookie, making five starts -- four at left guard and one on the right side. It’s part of the reason Denver let veteran LG Evan Mathis walk as a free agent despite him being a key cog for the run game. The Broncos also released RG Louis Vasquez. Garcia and Ty Sambrailo figure to be the starting guards come Week 1.

Garcia can play multiple spots on the interior line, but is expected to start out at center, battling Gino Gradkowski. The Broncos view Garcia as a versatile fit for Gary Kubiak’s zone-blocking system.

Garcia (6'4/309) was Maryland’s starting left tackle as a sophomore before transferring to Florida for his junior and senior years. He converted to center in 2014, earning second-team All-SEC recognition from the conference’s coaches. Garcia has good arm length (33 1/4") for an interior lineman, as well as big hands (10 1/4"). He is a phone-booth mauler with the ability to play both guard and center. Garcia would be an ideal “swing” interior reserve, but could also probably become a functional starter.