Finding Broncos: Five Offensive Linemen to Improve the Depth

Finding Broncos scouts the 2023 NFL Draft with a group of offensive linemen to improve the depth along the unit.

The Denver Broncos have made significant moves to rebuild their offensive line. They still need to add a few pieces, primarily for depth, but they can also use another piece to add serious competition at the center position. 

Even with Sean Payton's vote of confidence, Lloyd Cushenberry hasn't had the body of work over his three seasons to be handed the starting job without more competition. While the offensive line class isn't great, there are some center options to add competition and options for depth along the unit. 

Jaxson Kirkland | OT/OL | Washington

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Pros

• Despite the injuries, he played over 3,300 snaps in five seasons. 
• He kept his play relatively clean with only 17 penalties, 16 accepted, over his five seasons. 
• He has experience at both tackle spots and transitioned to left guard exceptionally well in 2022, leading to the best season of his career. 
• He has a good recovery when he is losing early in the rep. 
• He is credited for allowing only five sacks in his career and 51 total pressures on 1,847 pass-blocking snaps. 
• He moves pretty well with solid agility and footwork. 
• His hand technique is quite sound and keeps them up and ready. 
• He does have a quick kick slide to keep in front of rushers around the arch. 
• He does well in finding his landmarks when climbing and pulling. 

Cons

• Missed a lot of time due to injury in multiple seasons. 
• He has to improve his pad level, as he has natural height and plays tall, leading to easy leverage. 
• You wish he had the desire to finish reps, but he settles for a draw far too often. 
• There are issues making the second or third block because of how often he will settle. 
• He doesn't have great strength and has some issues when anchoring against bull rushes. 
• Explosive power puts him on skates, and he struggles to recover. 
• He has to get stronger to generate more push and drive. 

Fit with Broncos

Kirkland has plenty of experience, and he can offer up good versatility to be a swing tackle or a guard. The injury history is extensive and concerning, which could drive the Broncos away with their recent history of injuries on the line. However, Kirkland can fit the Broncos' scheme and would help fill the void they have with their depth with his versatility. 

Tashawn Manning | IOL | Kentucky

© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• Has a wide frame with excellent length for a guard, with well-built mass. 
• He has modest athleticism but excellent power, which is more to his game. 
• He brings experience on both sides of the line and can play on either side, though the results are better on the left side.
• Excellent power to be a bully in a phone booth. 
• He loves to finish blocks and walk away with a clear win each rep. 
• Ideal build, frame, and power to work in a gap scheme. 
• Excellent grip strength to latch onto defenders. 
• More than enough sand in his pants to drop and anchor against bullrush attempts.

Cons

• The modest athleticism overall, and issues with lateral agility, will see him limited in the scheme. 
• Doesn't offer up positional versatility to play anything but guard in the NFL. 
• Doesn't have a lot of experience, with a little over 1,800 snaps in five seasons. 
• He struggled in pass protection in 2022, with five sacks and 11 pressures.
• There isn't consistency in his game. 
• The technique is severely lacking, but did show signs of improvement during the 2022 season. 
• There isn't much there to work laterally. 
• He can lose focus as the rep goes on, leading to him getting beaten. 

Fit with Broncos

Manning is a powerfully built guard that is ideal for a power-based scheme. However, there isn't much there with the movement skills, which makes him a poor fit in zone-based schemes. The Broncos are building up their offense to be a power-run offense, which makes Manning a great fit. The starters are set with the addition of Ben Powers, but they can improve the depth, which is what Manning would bolster. 

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Juice Scruggs | IOL | Penn State

© Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He was not the best athlete, but he had a good 10-yard split, and explosion testing was solid. 
• He has a great frame, build, and length for an interior offensive lineman. 
• There is some versatility to play center and guard, though center is where he would be best. 
• He was a two-year starter playing over 1,800 of his 1,982 snaps between 2021 and 2022. 
• He got his experience between right guard and center over the last two seasons. 
• He has great hand technique, with a strong punch that is consistently placed. 
• Leader on and off the field. 
• He has solid awareness and does well to keep his looking for work or delayed rushers. 

Cons

• He doesn't have the best lateral agility, which could limit his scheme versatility. 
• He doesn't have that great trait to hang his hat on. 
• He is not overly quick with his reactions, which can leave the gap open long enough for quick gap shooters. 
• Feet are fine, but they aren't overly quick. 
• He has a bad habit of dropping his hands, leaving his chest open, and delaying hand counters. 
• He doesn't have the best body control and has a bad habit of overextending 
• He doesn't do a good job protecting the gaps from counters. 

Fit with Broncos

Juice Scruggs is a jack-of-all-trades type of center, who can play as a guard, but that isn't where he is best suited. There is enough to work in either scheme, though he may not have the lateral agility to thrive in a zone scheme. There isn't great power to thrive in a power scheme, either. The scheme fit is workable, but he doesn't provide legit competition for the starting job that the Broncos need. 

Alex Forsyth | IOL | Oregon

© Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros

• He did well with the athletic testing, showing good explosion and initial burst to fire off the line.
• While he doesn't offer much positional versatility, there is enough to work in different schemes.
• He became a starting center in 2020 and hasn't looked back, playing 1,892 snaps at center.
• There are efficient movement skills that keep him in a good position consistently.
• He was praised for his football IQ, ability to pick things up, and overall leadership qualities.
• He shows his athleticism on tape consistently.
• Executes his pulls and gaps cleanly without wasted movement. 

Cons

• There are issues with penalties, especially pre-snap, with 15 penalties, 14 accepted, in the last two seasons.
• He doesn't have much exposure outside of center, with only 84 snaps elsewhere, and doesn't seem to have the traits for versatility along the line.
• The hand technique is lacking, and he struggles to reset his hands after early losses.
• He lacks the power to anchor, generate consistent push, or jolt defenders off the snap.
• He has to improve his body control and balance. 

Fit with Broncos

Alex Forsyth is a solid athlete who projects into a zone scheme where he can hide the lack of power in his game. Unfortunately, the Broncos are building up a power-run offense, as indicated by their free-agency signings, and Forsyth isn't a fit for that. 

Ricky Stromberg | OC | Arkansas

© Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• There is good enough athleticism and power to be scheme versatile. 
• He has good instincts, awareness, football IQ, and leadership qualities. 
• He was trusted to make calls at the line, which he did well. 
• Plenty of experience, with over 3,100 snaps played. 
• He uses some quick reactionary athleticism to redirect defenders. 
• He has excellent timing and awareness when pulling and climbing to reach his landmarks. 
• There is a desire to finish blocks, and he always looks for more work with his head on a swivel. 
• He positions himself exceptionally well when climbing or pulling to seal the lane. 

Cons

• There has been an issue with penalties, with at least five each season and eight in 2021. 
• His overall size may be below multiple teams' minimums, and he doesn't offer up positional versatility. 
• He has played one snap outside of center over the last three seasons. 
• There were multiple times of going against top-level defensive linemen, and the results were modest at best. 
• There is a bad habit of reaching and lunging for defenders. 
• He doesn't play with a consistent bend, which leads to him giving up leverage at times. 
• He has to play with more body control and body discipline. 

Fit with Broncos

Having the versatility with the scheme is a boost for the Broncos. While they are building a power-run scheme, they can still mix things up with zone concepts to catch defenses sleeping. Stromberg has the traits to be a day-one starter and has the football IQ to pick things up quickly, which could be coveted for the Broncos. There needs to be competition for Cushenberry, and Stromberg could be a good option for that competition. 

Wherever the Broncos look to bolster their offensive line, depth doesn't matter much. It is something they need to do, however, and having the depth be developmental options could be better for the long-term status of the team. They can't end up in a situation with their offensive line as they have been over the past few seasons. 

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