Finding Broncos: Two Early Center Options to Start

The Broncos need help on their interior offensive line, and these two options could give them a starting center.

Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

While the Denver Broncos have Alex Forsyth and Luke Wattenberg under contract, they have yet to show enough to be handed the starting center job. Even with the addition of Sam Mustipher, who has starting experience, his play as a starter wasn't good enough quality to be handed the job.

This is a strong class for interior offensive linemen, and two early options can give them a starting center. The question is whether the Broncos are willing to expend the capital needed to obtain one. Who are these two prospects? Let’s dive into them. 

Sep 16, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) blocks / Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports

Jackson Powers-Johnson | Oregon

• Height: 6-foot-3
• Weight: 328 pounds
• Arm Length: 32-1/4 inches
• Hands: 9-7/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

Jackson Powers-Johnson has an outstanding build on his frame and has wide shoulders, a broad chest, and a thick lower half. There is exceptional power in his hands that stuns when he lands his punch and helps sustain and control his blocks. 

There is good versatility with Powers-Johnson to play any of the three interior spots on the offensive line and enough movement skills to be scheme versatile. The footwork is clean and consistent, with little work needed. 

He doesn’t have bad habits of lunging or leaning into his blocks. The football IQ is there, and he is quick to process defenses pre- and post-snap and can be trusted to make calls at the line, making life easier for the quarterback. 

The power he plays with shows in pass protection and run blocking. He sustains a proper base when engaged and always looks for work when he isn’t engaged. 

Cons

There isn’t much-starting experience with Jackson Powers-Johnson, who has one year as a starter. In over three seasons, he has played only 1,355 snaps on offense. 

While he has solid movement skills, lateral agility can hinder him. There are also hiccups with his overall quickness to engage on the move, which does impede his fit in an outside zone scheme. It can work, but it isn’t ideal. 

He must improve his overall body control when working straight up or on the move. When climbing to the second level, body control issues can lead to problems with landing his blocks. Work will also need to be done to keep his pad level in check, especially when pulling or climbing. 

Fit With Broncos

Jackson Powers-Johnson is an excellent fit with the Broncos and what they want to do offensively. He can be a day-one starter at any of the three interior offensive line spots, and the Broncos currently are without a starting center. Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth are two options currently on the roster, and they have yet to show enough to be handed the job. Then they added Sam Mustipher for added competition, but he struggled as a starter.  

Big Board Position: No. 9 overall.

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Nov 27, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils offensive tackle Graham Barton (62) / Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Graham Barton | Duke

• Height: 6-foot-5
• Weight: 313 pounds
• Arm Length: 32-7/8 inches
• Hands: 9-3/8 inches
• Relative Athletic Score: N/A

Pros

There is a lot of experience with Barton, who has played 2,569 snaps over four seasons, with three coming at left tackle and one at center. He has the tenacity, football IQ, and core strength you want in the NFL. All of the boxes are checked. 

Barton is patient with his blocks and doesn’t rush into them, creating an opening for the defender to win. He has easy, clean, and smooth movement skills as a puller and when climbing to the second level. The timing is exceptional, and he hits his landmarks with force. 

There is good strength in his frame to generate drive at the line of scrimmage. He also has power in his hands to sustain and control blocks. The techniques in pass protection are well-developed and consistent, and the same is valid with his run blocking. 

He has some twitchy movement skills that help him mirror and stay in front of defenders through their pass rush. He doesn’t lunge into contact and sustains a proper base throughout his blocks.

Cons

A lack of length will move Barton inside, with many saying his best spot will be at center. Not only is that a lower positional value, he hasn’t played center since his first year at Duke. That adds more projection in his evaluation of the NFL. 

His punch can be inconsistent with his landing, especially against twitchier pass rushers. The initial loss led to multiple lost reps in college. However, moving inside will cut back on the negative impact of this issue. 

While he doesn’t lunge when on the line, there are moments of lunging when pulling or climbing to the second level. This is compounded by a bad habit of lowering his head into contact, leading to some whiffs on those blocks. There is also a bad habit of grabbing and hugging. 

Fit With Broncos

Barton would work well with the Broncos. He is a scheme versatile blocker and could give them a legit starting option at the center. Barton would also improve their depth and provide them with an option at guard if they wanted to roll with Wattenberg, Forsyth, or Mustipher at center. While the Broncos don’t need a guard, Quinn Meinerz is entering the final year of his deal, and Ben Powers wasn’t up to par with the size of the contract. 

Big Board Position: No. 20 overall.

Better Fit for Broncos

Either one of these blockers would be a great fit with the Broncos. They fit the scheme and give them a versatile interior option as the starting center. The issue arises where these two are projected to go, and the Broncos are not in a better position to expend the needed picks to land one of them. 

So they are a great fit on paper, but the Broncos will likely look for a better positional value with their early picks. 

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