Finding Broncos: 5 Versatile IOL for Added Competition

Finding Broncos scouts the 2023 NFL Draft with a group of interior offensive linemen that can bring much needed competition.

The Denver Broncos improved their starting unit on the offensive line, but they still need to improve their depth. With it being a weaker class for offensive linemen, improving the depth with some veteran signings could be better. However, they could find hidden gems in the draft or as undrafted rookies. 

Raiqwon O'Neal | IOL | UCLA

© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He has good experience, with 2,430 snaps played over five seasons. 
• After transferring to UCLA from Rutgers in 2022, he picked up the offense quickly to be the starting left tackle. 
• There is enough power and athleticism to work in any scheme. 
• He has good awareness when pulling and working to the second level. 
• There is smooth movement and fluid hips to get out quickly when pulling or climbing. 

Cons

• His experience has come at left tackle, and he will be moved inside for the NFL. 
• He doesn't have the lightest feet and can drag on his kick slide. 
• There is poor timing and placement with his punch. 
• He has to learn to protect himself from counters, especially to the inside, with a bad habit of over-setting. 
• He can lunge and lean into contact. 

Fit with Broncos

O'Neal is a good fit for the Broncos. He is projected to go undrafted and fits the developmental lineman need the Broncos have. He won't be a contributor as a rookie, but if he develops after a year on the practice squad, he could be a backup on the inside. 

Chris Murray | IOL | Oklahoma

© Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• His best athletic traits are solid burst. 
• There is solid lateral movement when getting outside the box. 
• He has excellent experience, with four seasons playing at least 800 snaps as a starter. 
• There is good timing with his punch and pulling. 
• He does well punching up to get leverage on defenders. 

Cons

• He lacks size and mass, which could see him limited as a center only. 
• He is a poor athlete. 
• There isn't much power to his game, limiting his scheme fit. 
• There isn't power in his lower body to generate push. 
• All but 197 snaps came at right guard, which could be an issue transitioning to center in the NFL. 

Fit with Broncos

Murray has enough to be a backup in an outsize zone-heavy scheme, which isn't what the Broncos are running. However, he isn't a great fit for what they do and may not meet the size thresholds the Broncos may have. 

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Tyler Beach | OL | Wisconsin

© Mark Hoffman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros

• He has good size and frame. 
• He is a solid athlete with good explosion, solid burst, and agility. 
• There is a clear football IQ and does well finding his landmarks on the second level. 
• He has good awareness and instincts regarding late blitzers and twists/stunts. 
• He plays with clean positioning as a blocker. 

Cons

• He could do with more mass on his frame.
• He doesn't have ideal length, even for the interior. 
• While he was solid in pass protection in his career, 24 of the 38 pressures allowed came in 2021. 
• He has a bad habit of playing with a high pad level. 
• He doesn't work with his upper and lower body in sync, often stopping his hands to focus on his feet. 

Fit with Broncos

Tyler Beach has a bad habit of panicking in pass protection, which has to be corrected. There will need to be a year of development on the football field and in the weight room before being ready. However, he isn't an ideal scheme for what the Broncos do on offense. 

Austin Stidham | IOL | Troy

© Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He has good experience, with over 4,000 snaps played. 
• There is solid technique overall, with good hand technique. 
• He moves decently well when pulling, climbing, or working laterally. 
• There is good discipline with his play, with 15 penalties against him over five seasons. 

Cons

• He has to add more mass to his frame. 
• Almost all his experience has come at left tackle, and he will have to transition inside for the NFL. 
• He has struggles protecting the quarterback, with 10 sacks and 41 pressures allowed over the last two seasons. 
• He can be late to anchor against power and doesn't have enough power to generate drive as a run blocker. 
• He has a bad habit of dropping his head into contact or lunging to reach defenders. 

Fit with Broncos

Stidham doesn't fit what the Broncos do on offense, as he lacks the power to fit in. He is projected to go undrafted, but there will likely be a better fit among those that go undrafted. 

Brandon Council | IOL | Auburn

© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros

• He has good length for an interior lineman. 
• He is a solid athlete overall with good size. 
• He has done well in pass protection, with 61 pressures and seven sacks during college. 
• He has the versatility to play center or guard in the NFL.
• There is enough movement skills and power to work in any scheme on offense. 

Cons

• He could use a little more mass on his frame. 
• He doesn't have great agility. 
• He will be older as a rookie, with seven years of college football. 
• There is a bad habit of grabbing and pulling when he starts losing the rep. 

Fit with Broncos

Council is projected to go undrafted and will need time to develop before being ready for the NFL. However, he fits with the Broncos scheme on offense and can be a practice squad candidate if he shows enough during training camp. 

Improving the offensive line was a must for the Broncos, and they did that. However, without improved depth, they must hope their starting unit can stay on the field and avoid serious injuries. 

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