3 DL Options for Depth in Broncos' Trenches

The Broncos need more interior pressure on quarterbacks, could they get that help from one of these three prospects?

Florida State Seminoles running back Lawrance Toafili (9) fights off a tackle from Florida State / Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA

The Denver Broncos need help on their defensive line, even with the addition of Malcolm Roach. Roach is more of a run defender, and Zach Allen can't be the only player on the interior to be a consistent pass rusher. There is also the fact that they can move on from D.J. Jones and save some money against the cap this year. 

While this isn't a strong class for interior defensive linemen, there is still some talent. These three players could work for the Broncos. 

Nov 13, 2021; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive lineman Fabien Lovett (0) / Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

Fabien Lovett | Florida State

• Height: 6-foot-4
• Weight: 314 pounds
• Arm Length: 35-1/2 inches
• Hands: 10-3/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

Lovett has a great and wide build that enables him to handle two-gap responsibilities seamlessly. He has good agility and movement and keeps things clean and composed. At the Shrine Bowl, Lovett showed an explosive get-off to shoot gaps and make plays happen behind the line of scrimmage. 

When engaging with blockers, he has a good punch technique to get into the chest of blockers with relative ease. When Lovett has to two-gap as a run defender, he has excellent power to drop and hold his own against single and double blocks. The power he has in his frame and the power in his hands can make it hard for blockers to get off his engagement.

There has been nothing but praise for his character and football IQ. He checks all of the intangible boxes that teams could have. His game revolves around the power he brings, and there is room for significant improvement to make him more impactful as a pass rusher. However, if he isn't getting pressure, he does well to get his hands up to clutter throwing lanes. 

Cons

Lovett has achieved 57 total pressures and five sacks on 1,830 defensive snaps over six seasons. So, while there is reason to believe he can grow as a pass rusher, it is all projection. 

On tape, there are questions about his explosiveness and quickness. He answered some of them at the Shrine Bowl, but the few practices and one game don't erase the whole season. 

His hands have great power, but he sometimes gets caught up in hand fighting instead of discarding blocks to make the play. His foot quickness is inconsistent and needs to be more consistent to help him become a better gap shooter at the NFL level. 

Fit With Broncos

Lovett would be a good fit with the Broncos. He could help them with their run defense from day one as a rotational piece while they work to develop the pass rush ability. His size and ability could see him working as a 0/1 technique, but he can also slide outside. 

While it might be a little redundant with Roach now signed, Lovett still has the pass rush upside you don't get with Roach. On top of that, if Denver keeps D.J. Jones or not, Lovett could be a replacement this year or next when Jones is set to be a free agent. 

Big Board Position: No. 80 overall.

What happens next on the Broncos? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Sep 23, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Leonard Taylor / Andy Lewis-USA TODAY Sports

Leonard Taylor | Miami

• Height: 6-foot-3.5
• Weight: 303 pounds
• Arm Length: 33-7/8 inches
• Hands: 9 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 7.22

Pros

Taylor is an explosive interior defensive lineman who can shoot the gaps with how quickly he can get off the snap. The physical tools are there to work with and are easy traits to see on tape. He has good shedding technique to get off blocks and make the play. 

Along with the athleticism, he has good power to get blockers on their heels and work through them. He was used in multiple spots on the line and could offer that versatility depending on the down and the distance. There are some well-developed pass rush moves in his arsenal to help make an immediate impact as a rookie as part of a rotation. 

There is good bend to his game, and he can get under the chest of blockers, which helps with the ability to drive through them. When working forward, he keeps his legs churning to help sustain momentum. Overall, his production leaves you wanting more, but the 2022 season saw him in the right spot consistently and the production was better. 

Cons

It is hard to project Taylor because of his usage as a nose tackle in 2023. His production, play, and effort all took a hit from the 2022 season. He can still play as a nose tackle, but it depends on the down, distance, and circumstance, meaning he is more limited as a 3/4/5 technique. There also isn’t a lot of versatility in the scheme and it will need to be in a single gap scheme to be the most effective, but it can work in gap-and-a-half schemes. 

There is no consistency with his techniques in everything. The pad level will be good one play, and then he pops right up the next. He will have a textbook swim move, followed by a clunky swim move. He will drive his legs one play, then the next will get some push, and then sit on the block. Every aspect of his game lacks consistent technique. 

When working laterally, he doesn’t stay square to the line, making it easier for blockers to move him off his spot. The footwork is a complete mess, and his hand technique is decent but, again, inconsistent. The production in 2023 took a huge hit, and he has never lived up to the expectations when he entered college. Taylor is a boom-or-bust prospect who will give up on plays if he doesn’t win off the snap. If he doesn’t win off the snap, he doesn’t have the moves or technique. 

Fit With Broncos

The positives of Taylor would be such an outstanding fit for the Broncos. The snap get-off, and what he can bring as a pass rusher are what the Broncos could use to give Zach Allen help in generating interior pressure. However, as a complete prospect, Taylor can still work, but would require a lot more work than Denver can really afford to give with the current state of their defensive line. 

Big Board Position: No. 93 overall.

Nov 12, 2022; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; LSU Tigers defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (92) recovers a / Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Mekhi Wingo | LSU

• Height: 6-foot-0
• Weight: 284 pounds
• Arm Length: 32 inches
• Hands: 9-1/4 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: 8.05

Pros

Wingo has a compact and powerful build, and does well playing laterally against blocks. His foot quickness stands out when you watch him, which helps him work inside and when the plays go lateral. There is no questioning his motor, effort, or desire after he worked back from injury to play in the LSU bowl game. 

The versatility to work from multiple techniques on the defensive line and multiple fronts is coveted in the NFL. The athleticism is there, and his versatility is helpful. He has good hand technique and solid power to make him effective as a pass rusher and run defender. 

He has solid production over his three seasons between Missouri and LSU, with 58 pressures and 11 sacks. His quickness helps him work in a single-gap system, where he would fit best. 

Cons

There is a concern about his lack of size, as he lacks the length or width teams want in their defensive linemen. When he works as a pass rusher, he doesn't sustain proper bend throughout his rush, getting his pad level high and giving up leverage. 

His lack of length is an issue in multiple aspects of his play. Longer-armed blockers get into his chest easily, and he doesn't have the hand-fighting technique to get them off his chest. There is also a concern about his lack of power and strength to hold up at the point of attack.  

Fit With Broncos

Wingo is a decent enough fit for the Broncos and could work well as a rotational piece. It could be a tough adjustment for the NFL with his size constraints and figuring out what defensive front is his best fit, as well as his overall technique. The Broncos two-gap too often to make Wingo more than a decent fit. 

Big Board Position: No. 102 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

The Broncos need additional talent on their defensive line, and any of these three would work. Lovett would be the better fit, as he would be an immediate boost to their run defense and offers up a lot as a pass rusher without the amount fo work Taylor would need. That doesn’t make Taylor a bad fit, but the inconsistencies and effort concerns are there, making him a rougher fit than Lovett. As for Wingo, the Broncos aren’t a great fit for him with the scheme limitations Wingo faces due to the lack of size. 

Follow Mile High Huddle on X/Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!