Finding Broncos: Scouting 3 IOL to Upgrade Depth

The Broncos could be looking for interior depth on the offensive line, and these two options could be available.

Kansas State senior offensive lineman cooper Beebe (50) keeps Kansas redshirt senior defensive / Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA

The Denver Broncos could be looking for a starting center, but they need to improve their depth on the interior offensive line. Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth are their two center options currently under contract, while Will Sherman and tackle/guard Quinn Bailey are their other two depth players on the interior.

They need help as Quinn Meinerz enters the final year of his rookie contract, and Ben Powers was not up to par in 2023. This is a strong class for interior offensive linemen, and these are three higher-rated prospects. 

Oct 23, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats offensive lineman Cooper Beebe (50) blocks / Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Cooper Beebe | Kansas State

• Height: 6-foot-3
• Weight: 322 pounds
• Arm Length: 31-1/2 inches
• Hands: 9-1/4 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.27

Pros

There is a good frame on Beebe, who is extremely wide and easily occupies space. His build is dense, and can make him exceptionally hard to move when he drops into his anchor. With his frame and power, he makes it extremely hard for defenders to win with a bull-rush. 

The name of the game with Beebe is strength and power. He is a phone-booth mauler in the run game. The technique on combo blocks is there, and he can drive almost anyone off the line of scrimmage. His power is throughout his frame, and he can torque it from his lower area to unlodge sunk-in defenders. 

Beebe knows how to kick out defenders and create a wide running lane. In pass protection, he does well to stay square to the line of scrimmage and mirror his assignment, making it hard for them to get around his edges. With 3,128 snaps played, Beebe allowed only five sacks and 39 pressures. 

Cons

Beebe's most significant weaknesses will be his lack of length and some agility concerns. He won't be the most versatile blocker, but he is likely a guard-only prospect in a gap/power scheme. Quicker interior rushers can win through the inside lane with a quick get-off, which Beebe doesn't have the foot quickness to match. 

As for the length wasn't a significant issue in college, but it can be more impactful at the NFL level. Defenders can get into his chest with quick punches, and if they have the grip strength, Beebe can struggle to break free. 

His strength is tremendous, but his inconsistent techniques can limit the overall effectiveness of his play. His hand placement can also hinder the effectiveness of his grip strength, which hinders his ability to sustain blocks. 

Fit With Broncos

Beebe can be a day-one starter in the NFL for a gap/power scheme. That would include the Broncos if they needed a guard. It would be hard to justify the draft pick for Beebe unless they were planning to let Meinerz walk, part ways with Powers after the season, or thought he could be a center. 

Big Board Position: No. 34 overall.

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Wisconsin offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini (63) blocks Rutgers defensive lineman Mayan Ahanotu (92) / Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Tanor Bortolini | Wisconsin

• Height: 6-foot-4
• Weight: 303 pounds
• Arm Length: 31-1/2 inches
• Hands: 10 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 9.79

Pros

Bortolini is an excellent athlete with outstanding movement skills and versatility. His ability to pull out of the tackle box or climb to the second level stands out, which is why he will be so coveted by teams that have that as a large part of their running scheme. 

With his movement skills, Bortolini can fit in an outside zone scheme, but he has enough power and technique to stick in a gap/power scheme. Not only does he have scheme versatility, but position versatility is also there to play guard or center. 

His technique on combo blocks is there, and he does well to generate drive from his lower half. His hand technique is exceptional, with good grip strength and placement. As a bonus, Bortolini has the rid mindset and ferocity as a blocker and wants to win by dominating his matchup. 

Cons

There are some bad habits to clean up with Bortolini, including inconsistencies with his bend and tendency to lean into contact. This gets him off-balance, and defenders will often take advantage of that. 

While he does have good enough power, he will struggle to dislodge anchored defenders and generate movement upfront. Instead, he will slide off the defender, leaving an angle for them to make a play on the ball carrier. 

When working laterally as a blocker, Bortolini's feet will often deaden. This can lag him behind defenders and give them an opening to force the ball carrier back inside. He must keep his feet underneath him and use them to secure blocks laterally. 

Fit With Broncos

Bortolini is a fine fit with the Broncos, but he would be much better suited in a scheme that would use his athleticism and movement skills to the max. That would be an outside zone scheme, with elements in the Broncos offense, but its base is gap/power. 

Big Board Position: No. 66 overall.

Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards (7) runs the / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Zak Zinter | Michigan

• Height: 6-foot-6
• Weight: 309 pounds
• Arm Length: 33-1/2 inches
• Hands: 9-3/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

His build and frame are NFL-ready, with broad shoulders and a thick base. He has enough length to work inside and uses it well in combination with his frame's power. The positioning he takes on blocks after getting out of the snap is proper, and he keeps himself in front of his assignment. 

There is a strong base, and he showcases clean footwork with consistency. With the base and power, he has a good anchor to stall bullrush attempts. He can even torque power through his frame to dislodge anchored defenders at the point of attack. 

There is good enough movement skills with Zinter, and he does well locating and hitting his landmarks when pulling or climbing to the second level. He has power in his hands that helps sustain blocks, and he keeps his feet moving to generate more push at the line of scrimmage. 

Cons

Zinter suffered a broken tibia and fibula near the end of November and has had to sit out the draft process. The tape is great, and if not for the injury, he would be rated much higher than he is. However, there is a concern about the injury and when he would be good to go as a rookie. There is a good chance he essentially gets redshirted in his rookie season. 

On the field, he has some issues with his recovery. There are not many instances of him turning a loss into a win, which can be improved with consistent technique. He has good footwork but isn’t the most agile blocker, which could lead to issues on tight pulls. There may also be issues handling bigger nose tackle two-gapping types and getting consistent movement up front in the run game. 

Fit With Broncos

Zinter would be an excellent fit with the Broncos' scheme and timeline. With him possibly needing a year to recover fully, the Broncos can give him that. Then he can replace Meinerz if they can’t get an extension done, or if they can, they could move on from Powers and roll with Zinter and Meinerz as their guards. 

Big Board Position: No. 89 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

Any one of these three could fit with the Broncos. Zinter is the best fit for the scheme and timeline. There is also a chance they can get him with a lower pick than Beebe, who is also a good fit. Bortolini isn’t an ideal fit, but he can give the Broncos another center option, unlike Zinter and Beebe, who are guard-only prospects. 

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