Take a look back through Ja'Wuan James' football career with photos from his days at Tennessee through his time with the Dolphins.
Tennessee offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James (70) blocks Western Kentucky defensive lineman Raphael Cox (95) during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James (70) blocks Auburn defensive end Dee Ford (30) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee offensive linesman Ja'Wuan James (70) watches from the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
South Squad offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James of Tennessee (70) walks on to the field during Senior Bowl practice at Fairhope Municipal Stadium, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014 in Fairhope, Ala. (AP Photo/G.M. Andrews)
Tennessee offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey, left, and first round draft pick Ja'Wuan James pose for photos with James' new jersey during an NFL football news conference Friday, May 9, 2014, in Davie, Fla. The Dolphins selected James with the 19th overall pick in Thursday's draft. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Miami Dolphins' Ja'Wuan James is shown during mini-camp, Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at the Dolphins Training Facility in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins rookies Matt Hazel, Walt Aikens, center and Ja'Wuan James, react while watching a video, during the 2014 NFL Rookie Symposium at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, June 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Miami Dolphins tackle Ja'Wuan James, right, blocks Atlanta Falcons linebacker Tyler Starr (52) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Miami Dolphins tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) and offensive tackle Branden Albert (76)enter the field, before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) enter the field before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) lines up on the line of scrimmage during a week 8 NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 in Houston. Houston won 42-23. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) lines up on the line of scrimmage during a week 8 NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 in Houston. Houston won 42-23. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James (70) pass blocks in action against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday October 26, 2017 at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots defensive end Jabaal Sheard (93) goes up Miami Dolphins tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Miami Gardens, Fla. New England won 35-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Jerry Hughes (55) goes up against Miami Dolphins tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) during an NFL football game on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Miami won 34-31 in overtime. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Miami Dolphins tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) blocks during the game against the New York Jets, Saturday December 17, 2016, east Rutherford, NJ. The Dolphins defeated the Jets 34-13. (Al Tielemans via AP Images)
Miami Dolphin tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) blocks during the game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday December 4, 2016, Baltimore. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 38-6. (Al Tielemans via AP Images)
Miami Dolphins Ja'Wuan James (72) during the NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, in Miami.
(AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
Miami Dolphins tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) blocks against the Buffalo Bills during a week seven NFL football game Oct. 23, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins won 28 - 25. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) is congratulated by tackle Ja'Wuan James (70) and wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
From the start of the 2011 season through Super Bowl XLVIII, Orlando Franklin was a mainstay at right tackle. Including postseason play, he started 53 of a possible 54 games at the spot. The Broncos didn't have to worry about changes at the position, and they flourished.
In the five seasons that followed, 12 different players started at least one game at right tackle. No one ever started all 16 regular-season games. In the last two seasons alone, six different players -- Menelik Watson, Allen Barbre, Donald Stephenson, Cyrus Kouandjio, Jared Veldheer and Billy Turner -- started at right tackle.
This is why Ja'Wuan James is with the Broncos. A six-year veteran in his prime, James joins the Broncos with one task: to stick a boulder in the revolving door and bring stability to a position that has lacked it.
"We think he's a perfect system fit for us," President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway said. "He's had five great years down in Miami."
Of the seasons in which James played at least 500 total snaps, last year was his best in pass-protection rate, according to the data compiled by Pro Football Focus. James allowed one pressure every 18.9 pass-protection snaps last year.
In 2017, he was on an even better pace, allowing one pressure every 23.4 pass-protection snaps before his season was cut short in Week 9 because of a hamstring injury.
James' athleticism helps him overcome an early mistake. Some offensive linemen have trouble recovering if they're beaten with a quick move off the snap, leading to a pressure or a penalty. But James' balance and footwork allows him a chance to battle back and salvage the play.
Former Dolphins wide receiver O.J. McDuffie, who covers his old team and hosts a podcast devoted to it, praised James' footwork above all.
"His footwork is great," McDuffie said. "If he can get a little bit stronger, and if he's working well with the right guard and center, he's going to work well with that team."
Head Coach Vic Fangio sees the same attributes.
"[He's a] good athlete with length and size to him and I like that he's in the middle of his career," Fangio said. "I think that he's got a chance to be a Bronco for a long time."
If James can avoid the season-ending injuries that cut short his 2015 and 2017 seasons, Fangio's proclamation could be accurate.
A change of scenery could help James, as well. McDuffie believes that James sometimes got lost amid the team-wide struggles of the Dolphins. They have played in just one postseason game in the last 10 seasons and haven't won a playoff game since Dec. 30, 2000.
"I thought that Ja'Wuan became a victim of the situation down here more than anything," McDuffie said. "He was an outstanding pick for us, and I think he became a victim of the Miami Dolphins.
"I think he's going to be an outstanding player, as well as an outstanding person in the community for Denver."
