Finding Broncos: 10 Interior Offensive Linemen to Add Depth

The Denver Broncos will likely need a new center and depth at guard. Can they find someone in the draft?

While the Denver Broncos have their starting guards in place with Quinn Meinerz and Ben Powers, they may require a new starting center. Lloyd Cushenberry is set to be a free agent, and with the salary cap situation the Broncos are in, they may be unable to re-sign him. They have two potential starting options in Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth, but neither has shown enough to be handed the starting job.

There are plenty of center options in this class, but the Broncos must also improve their guard depth. While they got lucky with the health of their offensive line, having the same starting unit until the end of the season, their depth is questionable. In the times they did see the field, in the regular season and pre-season, they didn't do enough to answer those questions. Can the Broncos find a starting center or some additional depth on the interior in this class? 

Troy Fautanu | Washington

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Having played left tackle for Washington, Fautanu is likely moving inside for the NFL, as there are questions about his length. The physical mindset will draw interest from multiple teams as they are drawn to a blocker who wants to take defenders' will on each rep. He will likely test out well athletically, which, combined with his strength and power, could help his scheme versatility. Now, he still has the versatility to play tackle in the NFL, but will likely be viewed as an 'in case of emergency' option. 

His hand technique will need to be cleaned up at guard or tackle, especially the placement and timing of his engaging punch. He also has a bad habit of getting over-aggressive with his blocking, which can get him ahead of the flow or even see him lunge into contact. Keeping his head and eyes up will help, especially on blocks that get him outside or to the second level. 

Christian Haynes | UConn

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Haynes had a good week at the Senior Bowl, showing his tremendous grip strength and the sound technique he plays with from top to bottom. His size is below standards for even being a guard in the NFL, which could limit him to being a center only for multiple teams. The lack of length can carry over into issues in pass protection, which can be covered by being a center that faces few one-on-one blocks in pass protection.  

The athleticism, strength, and football IQ are all there, and the transition to being a center shouldn't be difficult. His feet are light and quick, and it helps him recover when he is initially losing the rep. Haynes' ability to recover is one of the best in this class. While he won't offer up positional versatility, you can throw him in any scheme and see him be successful. 

Cooper Beebe | Kansas State

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Beebe is one of the strongest and most physical blockers in this class. However, he doesn't have great length, which will drive some teams away. There are tricks to cover for the length concerns, and he shows some of them on tape at the collegiate level, but they need to be more developed to handle the changes that come with moving to the NFL. He has excellent power, which he uses to break down defenders each snap, and it doesn't matter if it is a run or in pass protection; he uses his power to win through technique. 

His football IQ is off the charts, and he can play on either side of the offensive line. The athleticism is fine, but his feet are not the quickest to have him pulling often or moving laterally consistently, limiting g the scheme fit. His anchor is top-notch and challenging to break through from a bull rush, and he is quick to get into his anchor when needed.  

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Zak Zinter | Michigan

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Zak Zinter was one of the top guard prospects in the class, and he still is. However, a late-season injury is going to see him fall some come draft day. It could lead to him being a great steal, especially for a team that doesn't need an immediate starter at guard and can give him plenty of time to recover from the injury. There is great scheme versatility and some positional versatility to play either side of the offensive line, and there is no doubt about his football IQ, toughness, and physicality on the football field. 

He will also bring a lot of experience and good athleticism, but his height might work against him. Zinter is tall for a guard, which can become a serious issue if he doesn't play with a more consistent bend. One of the most significant issues in his college tape is playing high and giving up leverage to the defender. 

Jackson Powers-Johnson | Oregon

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Jackson Powers-Johnson is the best interior offensive lineman in this class. He has scheme and positional versatility, as he can work in any scheme and any of the three interior spots. While he isn't the quickest of blockers, he has ways to make up for it with his football IQ, relentlessness, and technique to break down defenders. It is the same with his length, which isn't ideal, but he knows how to hide it and make up for it in other ways. 

This is a plug-and-play starter in any scheme at center or guard. His best position is as the center, where he can use his football IQ to make some of the calls at the line and ease some of the pressure off the quarterback. The athleticism is there for the NFL, his hand technique is clean and consistent, and the attitude is what you want. He is a high-floor prospect who should be a good starter for years at the very least, but he has a high ceiling with the chance of being one of the best centers ever to play the game.

Graham Barton | Duke

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Graham Barton is another tackle that will be moving inside for the NFL. Many folks want to see him move inside the center due to his football IQ and the way he sees the game. However, he can play any of the five spots on the offensive line, though tackle will be an emergency option as the length isn't ideal there. Barton loves to finish blocks with the defender on the ground and blocks with unparalleled ferocity. 

There are other reasons besides his length that he will work better inside at the NFL level than at tackle. He has a bad habit of drifting in pass coverage or seeing high in his vertical sets, and limiting his space will cut that habit. The hand placement can be hit or miss, and he opens himself up to counters, which his drifting exasperates. So, with him working inside, the space will be more confined and help his recovery. 

Zach Frazier | West Virginia

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Frazier is a center prospect who could play guard but may not do as good of a job. He is also coming off a late-season injury, and his toughness should never be questioned after everything that happened when he got hurt. Frazier is an ultimate team guy with a high football IQ and checks off all of those intangibles you want in a blocker. 

He isn't the most agile or mobile blocker, but he is a mauler in the run game that will break down defenders physically in a phone booth. So, the scheme versatility isn't there, and positional versatility isn't great. His anchor is outstanding, and the quickness in dropping it and the smooth transitions help his ability to hold up. His hands are great, and his grip strength is elite. Defenders can't break free when he gets his hands locked, but he has the football awareness to let go before he enters the area where holding is possible. 

Sedrick Van Pran | Georgia

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Sedrick Van Pran has the scheme and positional versatility to play three spots on the interior in any scheme/concept in the NFL. He has a high football IQ and excellent instincts, especially when he gets to the second level. His leadership has been praised frequently, and he has good range, athleticism, and agility. 

His balance has issues, as he can get his shoulders ahead of his feet. This issue saw him fall to the field multiple times, so NFL coaching must correct that. Reigning in his aggressiveness could help there, as well as teaching the proper techniques. 

Javion Cohen | Miami

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Cohen may not bring the best versatility, but he can play either guard spot. He is an athletic blocker who doesn't have the best power. The movement skills and agility are there for an outside-based running scheme, where he can use the movement and technique to generate movement. His lack of power shows and should keep him from working in a more inside-based running scheme. 

There is a good football IQ, and his footwork is some of the best in this class. When asked to pull, he brings a good explosion and will bring that into contact to generate artificial power. Cohen can be a good guard in the NFL, but he will depend on going to the suitable scheme and situation. 

Dominick Puni | Kansas

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Puni is an athletic blocker who could play any of the five spots on the offensive line in either scheme. He will need a lot more technical refinement with his hands to work as a tackle. His motor, effort, and football IQ are all outstanding, and at the Senior Bowl, he saw reps all over the line, including center. His best work during the week came when he worked at a center. 

He doesn't have the ideal length for being a tackle, but he knows how to make up for it. There are also issues with how he ends, as he is a waist bender and needs to play with proper bends throughout his body. His power is fine but not great, and he does have issues sustaining momentum on driving blocks, but improving his bend and leverage could help some. 

This is a solid class for interior offensive linemen, and some tackles will likely make a living moving inside as well. There is a chance the Broncos can land a starting center if they want to go that route. They can also find some solid options to develop for guard in preparation for moving on from Ben Powers after this next season or to prepare for the possibility of losing Quinn Meinerz, who is entering the final year of his deal. 

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