PFF Gives Broncos a Lackluster Value Grade for Mike McGlinchey Signing
The Denver Broncos’ barrage of paying offensive linemen continued on Monday as the NFL's 'legal tampering' window opened up on Monday. Denver signed former San Francisco 49ers first-round right tackle Mike McGlinchey and ex-Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Powers.
Along with Garett Bolles, the Broncos now possess three highly-paid assets on the offensive line in an attempt to rectify a unit that has struggled for nearly a decade. Obviously, below-average offensive line output is not something Sean Payton is willing to suffer as head coach.
Signing the first big offensive tackle contract of the 2023 free agency cycle, McGlinchey lands in Denver on a five-year, $87.5 million contract with $50 million guaranteed. He now ranks as the 13th highest-paid tackle in the NFL at $17.5 million per year.
The Broncos were going to have to pay big in order to land one of the big tackles in free agency, and Pro Football Focus seems to believe that perhaps McGlinchey was overpaid. PFF gave the Broncos a value grade of C on McGlinchey while dishing out a B+ for fit/need.
McGlinchey hasn’t quite lived up to his draft pedigree as a top-10 pick, but he is a quality starter at right tackle who has returned to form after suffering a torn quadriceps in 2021. He’s earned an 85.4 run-blocking grade since he entered the league, a top-10 mark among tackles. He still has room to grow as a pass protector but notably dropped his pressure percentage allowed from 6.1% over his first three seasons to 5.1% over the past two.
Along with Orlando Brown Jr., McGlinchey was considered to be one of the top offensive linemen on the market this year, and he received a huge contract from the Broncos because of it. The $50 million guaranteed is the second-highest currently on the market, behind only Ronnie Stanley.
The five-year veteran is the second offensive lineman Denver has signed today, which is a signal for how Sean Payton wants to build this offense around QB Russell Wilson. Given that McGlinchey has graded out better in run blocking than pass blocking in every year of his career, it could also signal a more run-heavy approach to Denver’s offense next year.
With Payton coaching and the Walton-Penner ownership group in charge of finances, Denver felt okay paying top dollar for what the team perceives to be a top tackle. To date, McGlinchey’s career has been solid but perhaps underwhelming. A former top-10 selection in the draft and celebrated during his collegiate career at Notre Dame, his durability and pass protection have been issues throughout his rookie contract.
However, at just 28 years old, McGlinchey should be able to continue to improve his pass protection technique with possibly another five years of being in his prime. He may be inconsistent in his pass protection, but as a run blocker, he's one of the best in the game.
With power at the point of attack and fluidity and athleticism to be a feature blocker in an outside zone scheme, McGlinchey, alongside right guard Quinn Meinerz, should give Denver one of the more formidable guard-tackle run-blocking tandems the team has seen in some time.
Denver may not have signed McGlinchey at a 'value,' but given the need to solidify the position, it’s understandable why the team threw money at the problem. He projects as an identity fit for a team that will likely lean more on the run game and a player still very much in his prime as he garners the second contract of his young NFL career.
It’s completely understandable why the Broncos felt they needed to pay a massive price for McGlinchey to solve the position for the foreseeable future. With the dust settling on a bombastic Day 1 of free agency, there were no great value signings in the Mile High City, but that doesn't mean the Broncos didn't make some significant upgrades.
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