Broncos' 2023 Unsung Hero Revealed by NFL.com
Every NFL team features an unsung hero or two. In the game of football, even superstar quarterbacks are a cog in the machine.
On the subject of unselfish foot soldiers, NFL.com's Kevin Patra revealed his list of 32 unsung heroes on Wednesday.
After a season where a great many believed that Denver Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz had done enough to garner Pro Bowl recognition despite being snubbed, Patra pegged him as the Broncos' unsung hero of 2023.
Meinerz's size, combined with his multiple tribal tattoos and flowing deadlocks, make him hard to miss, but it's been his brutal downfield blocking that often made a feature on highlight reels across NFL media. Framing the 25-year-old out of Wisconsin-Whitewater as an unsung hero fits Patra's criteria of deserving players who didn't receive a Pro Bowl or All-Pro selection this past season.
The Broncos offense might have struggled this season, but Quinn Meinerz was a standout on the interior. Flashing power and an angry streak that he used to push defenders, Meinerz was one of the best run-blocking guards in the league in 2023. He also allowed a 6.1% QB pressure rate in one-on-one situations, ranking fourth-best among all right guards (minimum 300 pass-blocking snaps), per Next Gen Stats (a tick below that of Cowboys Pro Bowler Zack Martin, who came in at 5.9%).
It didn't take long for Meinerz to forge a reputation as a road grader in the running game, and he happens to be built like a Mack Truck. His 6.1 percent QB pressure rate allowed in pass protection showcases his rapid progress in that department.
As Meinrez inevitably moves toward a lucrative contract extension, the Broncos will be especially keen to keep him around. To facilitate a Meinerz extension, advanced planning will be required by the Broncos, making it increasingly likely that center Lloyd Cushenberry III will depart in free agency this offseason.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton will prioritize some degree of continuity upfront, especially if he's intent on going with a less experienced quarterback under center in 2024. Four of the Broncos' starting five offensive linemen are under contract for 2024, including Meinerz, though it's a contract year for him.
Meinrez is rapidly ascending, and in many circles, he's already been labeled as the best guard in the league. There's a lot of value in how Meinerz's ultra-physical play sets a gold standard for his Broncos teammates to strive for moving forward.
Getting Meinerz locked up long-term makes sense, as there's still plenty of room for growth in his brawling, alpha-dog game. An unsung hero at the moment, sure. But don't expect that to be the case for Meinerz for too much longer as his NFL profile continues to grow.
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