Finding Broncos: Five Offensive Tackles for Developmental Option

Finding Broncos scouts the 2023 NFL Draft with a group of offensive tackles that can be the developmental tackle that's needed.

While the Denver Broncos upgraded their starting unit, their depth still needs improvement. One piece they can use is a developmental swing tackle option. The offensive tackle draft class isn't great, and the depth of the class is lacking, but there still could be some hidden gems. 

Richard Gouraige | OT | Florida

© Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Pros

• Has good size and length, and he uses it well. 
• Has outstanding experience with four seasons, over 500 snaps played, and a total snap count of 2,941. 
• With that experience, he kept the penalty count low. 
• He had good standing in pass protection, credited with five sacks and 65 total pressures allowed over his career. 
• He played over 1,100 snaps at both left tackle and left guard. 
• Has positional versatility. 
• Has good hand technique, placement, and a strong, well-timed punch. 

Cons

• He doesn't play with great bend in his legs, bending at the waist instead. 
• Lunges into contact. 
• Will need to get stronger at the point of attack. 
• The technique is solid, but he doesn't use it with consistency. 
• The feet are heavy. 
• Doesn't have great lateral agility. 
• He relies on upper body power to generate movement but doesn't have much power in his lower half. 

Fit with Broncos

Gouraige is a solid developmental option if the Broncos are wanting a power option. However, he doesn't have the best movement skills and will need to unlock his hips and improve his use of lower body power. There isn't much experience on the right side, which could lead to issues switching sides, making him less than ideal for a swing tackle option. It isn't easy to change sides, but he does have experience working inside at guard. 

Luke Haggard | OT | Indiana

© Nikos Frazier / Journal & Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pros

• Solid experience with 1,940 snaps played over three years. 
• He was penalized six times, with five accepted, during his career. 
• He is only credited for allowing six sacks over three seasons. 
• Excellent frame with room to add more mass. 
• Solid movement skills when pulling or climbing to the second level. 
• He has solid awareness when climbing and hits his landmarks with good timing. 

Cons

• He had issues protecting the quarterback, with 66 pressures allowed in three years. 
• He doesn't play with great balance and will often lean and lunge into contact. 
• Doesn't have ideal length, which is a clear issue against longer rushers. 
• He fires off the snap into a high stance and doesn't keep his pad level low. 
• Doesn't have great power to generate push at the point of attack. 

Fit with Broncos

Haggard is a decent moving tackle that has issues in pass protection. He could become an adept run blocker in a zone scheme but still will need to generate more power consistently. There will need to be more work to bring along his pass protection, and he is a bit tall to move inside. He may not be the best fit for the Broncos, but there are traits that they can find worth trying to develop. 

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

John Ojukwu | OT | Boise State

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He was praised for the off-field intangibles, like his work ethic, character, and how easy he is to coach. 
• He was praised for his football IQ. 
• Has outstanding experience, with over 3,500 snaps played and over 50 starts in five seasons. 
• He allowed 11 sacks over five seasons, with only four in the last three seasons. 
• He only called for eight penalties in college. 
• He has experience at both tackle spots, with his best coming at left tackle. 
• Fires off the snap quickly and has excellent burst when climbing or pulling. 
• He has techniques down and doesn't need much work to develop or refine the technique. 
• He can roll power through his lower half to generate movement. 

Cons

• He struggles to drop his anchor to slow speed-to-power rush attacks quickly. 
• Doesn't win often enough with the initial punch. 
• He needs to amp up the speed of his kickslide not to lose the edge quickly. 
• May not have much upside and is close to his ceiling. 
• Will need to play with leverage more consistently. 
• Leaves the inside lane open, leaving plenty of room and opportunity for inside counters. 

Fit with Broncos

There is a lot of scheme versatility with Ojukwu, and he has the experience of playing both sides of the line. In addition, he has prototypical size and good enough length to last at tackle. While there isn't much room for growth, he has a high floor to be a reliable backup tackle. If the Broncos want to raise the floor of the room with a draft pick, Ojukwu is one of the better options, and his fit is natural. 

Nick Saldiveri | OT | Old Dominion

© James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He played over 2,300 snaps over the last three seasons, mostly at right tackle. 
• He allowed no sacks in 2022. 
• Great height and frame, with good enough arm length. 
• He was praised for his football IQ. 
• Good athlete who tested well at the NFL Combine. 
• Light and quick feet with a quick and clean kick slide. 
• Can use defender momentum to generate a change of direction. 
• Athleticism to excel in working in the screen game is there. 

Cons

• Pass protection was unreliable, with nine sacks and 66 pressures over three seasons. 
• He isn't overly quick with his hands initially or resetting them. 
• Doesn't generate enough push or bring enough power into the run game. 
• Hand technique is a mess, and placement is all over the place. 
• He struggles to execute at the second level. 
• He can struggle to bench defenders off his frame. 

Fit with Broncos

Nick Saldiveri is an athletic tackle who can work exceptionally well in a zone scheme. However, there isn't much power to his game, and severe issues in the run game. The Broncos could view him as a developmental option, but he doesn't fit the mold of how they've built up their offensive line with their free-agent signings. 

Connor Galvin | OT | Baylor

© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

• He has outstanding experience with over 3,500 snaps played, coming from playing over 500 snaps each season of his five-year career. 
• He is praised for his football IQ and knows how to change his blocking to match pass-rush attack plans. 
• Decent fluidity in the hips to open up and pull. 
• Has good awareness and sense to counter stunts and twists. 
• He has good hand technique and isn't overactive with his hands. 
• He has good power, timing, and placement with his initial punch that can jolt defenders. 

Cons

• A poor athlete who doesn't meet minimum arm length requirements. 
• Will have to find tricks to make up for the lack of length, as he is too tall with a naturally high pad level to play inside. 
• Inconsistencies in pass protection series to series and season to season. 
• Doesn't have athletic movement skills, with lumbered movement and heavy feet. 
• Doesn't make up for the lack of athleticism with power, which is only modest. 
• Naturally high pad level isn't helped with the poor bend. 

Fit with Broncos

Connor Galvin doesn't have the best athleticism, with solid fluidity in his hips. However, that fluidity is held back by heavy feet. There isn't great power to his game, and he will need to add more room to his mass. The technique could be worth the risk for the Broncos to develop, but they will still need another tackle, as Galvin will need a year in the weight room before competing for a bigger role. 

One of these options could be a hidden gem for the Broncos, but they still can be worth taking a shot on to try and develop. 

---

Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel.

Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

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