Finding Broncos: Two Versatile DL to Bolster the Depth

Finding Broncos scouts the 2023 NFL Draft with two defenders that can play all over the defensive front.

The Denver Broncos need to bolster the depth of their defensive line, despite spending three selections across the front in last year’s draft and bringing in Zach Allen in free agency. Eyioma Uwazurike flashed some potential, and Matt Henningsen offered up quality play as a rotational player at times, but the unit overall lacks high-end talent toward the bottom of the depth chart. In addition, they need to be better in the run game, specifically on the edge, so trying to find guys that can anchor and eat space in Vance Joseph’s defense needs to happen.

Tuli Tuipuloto | DL | USC

Pros:

• Plays the game like a man with his hair on fire.
• He has incredible athleticism for a player of his size.
• First step explosiveness is off the charts.
• He has powerful core strength that converts his speed to power and delivers a wicked punch.
• Some inside and outside versatility as a pass rusher.
• Can be super effective as a blitzer coming from the second level and as a twisting defensive end on stunts.
• He shows a flashy spin move, though he needs to refine that technique to be more effective.
• Slashes through gaps with good burst and power.
• Recognizes well in read-option situations, staying true to technique.
• Has some coverage versatility, though there is some uncomfortable tape out in open space.

Cons:

• He is a very poor tackler, frequently missing ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage.
• High target area and slides off of runners relatively easily.
• The hand fighting technique is raw and unrefined.
• He lacks the desired bend to be an effective rusher around the arc.
• Needs a better pass-rush plan than “see ball, chase ball.”
• Some stiffness in his lower half.
• Needs more finesse to his game.
• Length is lacking when shedding blockers, leading to fluid edges that flatten to the boundary.
• Loose cannon and undisciplined as a run defender, losing gap integrity.
• A tweener with no true position, lacking bend and length for the edge as well as mass for the interior.

Overview:

Tuli Tuipulotu is a hyperactive but raw defensive lineman with a nice blend of explosiveness and strength. He moves well for a player with a dense frame and has a relentless motor in his pursuit of the football. Lining up all over the defensive front seven, Tuipulotu has a unique range of skill sets. He can rush the passer with speed to power conversion off the edge, shoot the B-gap in the running game, drive vertically as a blitzer, and drop into coverage if asked.

There is a definite lack of a pass-rush plan, a tendency to freelance rather than remain assignment sound to Tuipulotu’s game, and some tackling deficiencies as a run defender. He also lacks a true identity as a player due to length and mass concerns. However, his versatility and ability to field multiple roles should lead to teams taking a chance to try to find his best fit. There is a lot to work with and an untapped potential with Tuipulotu, making him a very intriguing defender moving forward.

Fit with the Broncos:

Should he fall to the third round, the Denver Broncos should have a high interest in Tuli Tuipulotu as a versatile player who can offer incredible upside as a powerful pass rusher coming off the edge. His neverending motor is an attraction, though it can get him into trouble. The first step in unlocking his potential would be to ingrain assignment football into his DNA, then let the athleticism take over. Denver needs to find a quality backside edge defender that can be a wall in the running game, making Tuipulotu a curious fit due to his tackling inefficiencies and inability to shed blockers at times. Still, there is enough to work with to project him as a quality starter.

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© Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Byron Young | DL | Alabama

Pros:

• Tons of experience, playing in 50 games for the Alabama defense.
• Can play anywhere from the 2i-tech to the 5-tech, with the best fit as a 4i defensive end.
• Good length for the position and uses it well at times.
• Hand placement when attacking blocks is nuanced and refined.
• Has a good swim move to separate and slide into gaps easily.
• Good play recognition.
• He has active hands and feet, tying them together to add power to his rush.
• Decent pad-level consistency.
• Prototypical build with a solid trunk that packs unlockable power.
• Strong anchor against double teams.
• Assignment sound player that maintains gap integrity rather well against power schemes.
• A strong run defender that hit a career-high in tackles in 2022.

Cons:

• He can get washed out in the running game against lateral movement.
• His athletic profile is lacking across the board.
• Clunky feet limit his movement skills.
• Stiffer hips that don’t transition well.
• Lateral agility on twists and stunts doesn’t shine at all.
• Lacks a quality pass-rush profile.
• A top-heavy player with balance issues and spends a lot of time on the ground.
• He needs to play to his length a little bit better, especially when lined up as a 5-tech and attacking the quarterback.
• He needs to see pulling blockers better and bend his knees to absorb the blocker in those situations.

Overview:

Byron Young is an experienced and thick defensive lineman that excels as a run defender along the interior. He eats space rather well and has a good anchor against double teams, finding creative ways to split the gap with nuanced striking skills and dropping his pads well. He lacks a true pass-rush profile due to a lack of athleticism and clunky footwork, but there is a place for him as an early down defender at the next level.

Young is a linear player that lacks explosiveness in his lower half, but he can unlock some power by tying his feet to his hands and extending his long arms into the chest plate of the blocker in front of him. He is gap-sound for the most part, but there are times he can get washed out due to stiffer hips and a lack of lateral agility when teams run zone plays to the boundary.

Fit with the Broncos:

The Broncos' new defensive scheme tasks their defensive lineman with having to hold up space and let the linebackers flow in the running game, preferably with the ability to play through a gap and a half. This requires lateral agility and explosiveness that Young doesn’t have, making him an odd fit. However, his power and anchor against double teams could be enticing as a rotational run defender on early downs. Young looks to be a later-round pick without a true pass-rush profile, so a dart throw to add to the depth isn’t entirely out of the question.

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