© Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
5 OTs Broncos Could Target for Starting Potential
The Broncos could soon be needing a new starting tackle, and this is a strong draft class to land one.
Offensive line play is a premium aspect of top-quality play in the NFL. If teams can’t open running lanes and protect the passer at a high level, their offense will always remain stagnant. The Denver Broncos have fallen trap to that fact for several years, especially with the depth of the unit as a whole. The 2023 season saw a brief respite for the Broncos, as four out of five starters played nearly every game. While their performance wasn’t spectacular by any stretch of the imagination, it wasn’t as bad as fans made it out to be. Regardless, some questions need answering moving forward.
The Broncos could open up a massive hole at left tackle by moving on from Garett Bolles following the 2024 season, so adding a developmental player with starting upside could be in the cards this offseason. They must also add more depth to the room to compete with Quinn Bailey, who was re-signed to a one-year, veteran minimum contract.
Denver has a plethora of late selections in this year’s draft, and the offensive tackle class is loaded with talent. Here are five potential options to help fill the gaps moving forward.
Nov 19, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers offensive lineman Matt Goncalves
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Goncalves | Pittsburgh
Pros:
Goncalves is a high-quality pass protector with four-position versatility as a guard or tackle. He uses vice grip hand strength to help sustain and mirror defenders. He moves well vertically as a run blocker and in his pass-blocking sets, and he gets depth well to help soften the pocket as the play progresses. There is a solid pop in his punch to disrupt smaller defenders at contact, and he uses good hand technique to keep himself square to his target without reaching to initiate contact.
Cons:
Goncalves has slower feet in his kick-step and lacks lateral agility to cut off speed rushers around the arc. He shows a sense of urgency to latch on to defenders too soon, and he relies on his hands to slow pass rushers down rather than flatten angles with his feet. He is more of a “wall-and-stall” run blocker than a true displacer at the point of attack, and his lack of lateral agility will limit him to a power-running scheme at the next level. Goncalves also shows a high pad level and lacks knee bend, creating leverage issues against power rushers.
My Grade: 4th Round
Erick Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 118
Oct 21, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimoloau (44) gets up
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA
Caedan Wallace | Penn State
Pros:
A big and burly tackle, Wallace shows a solid playing base with massive play strength. He moves well for a player of his size and can land on targets easily while using his length to ward off counter moves. He has heavy hands and uses a wicked chop technique to detach and re-set his body in pass protection, which allows him to fire his hands and re-direct his opponent. He has a powerful lower half as a run-blocker, and he can move defenders easily when he gets a head of steam.
Cons:
Speed rushers cause problems for Wallace as he shows slower foot speed around the arc. He has stiff hips and is forced to open them early, which can cause issues with players crossing his face and penetrating the B-Gap and limit him to a power scheme that moves forward rather than laterally. There are times when rushers can predict his hand placement and ward off his length, which neutralizes his upper body strength and allows for tight angles to the quarterback. Wallace has the tools to be a tackle, but his best fit may be as a guard at the next level.
My Grade: 5th Round
Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 137
Mar 3, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; South Dakota State offensive lineman Garret Greenfield (OL30)
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Garret Greenfield | South Dakota State
Pros:
An experienced leader for a back-to-back FCS National Champion team, Greenfield is a natural athlete who excels in pass protection. He has smooth footwork, lateral agility, and above-average recovery ability when rushers get upfield. He easily traces rushers around the arc and finishes players who try to cross his face with authority. He can climb to the next level and land on his target easily, and he brings a natural aggression that offensive line coaches will fall in love with.
Cons:
Despite his natural athleticism, Greenfield is often out of control and off-balance. He has a high pad level, lacks body control, and frequently falls to the ground. His base can get too wide sometimes, causing a lack of power conversion through his hips in his anchor and as a run blocker. He fails to use his length as a run blocker, opting to close space with his chest and play “bully ball” rather than re-directing defenders to open up running lanes.
My Grade: 6th Round
Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 156
Mar 2, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Central Florida offensive lineman Tylan Grable (OL29) talks to
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Tylan Grable | UCF
Pros:
Grable is a long and tall player with great athleticism. He is a smooth mover in his lower half and can flatten angles to the outside to cut off speed rushers. His hands are active and powerful, and he latches on easily using his length and grip strength. He has enough fluidity to ride rushers around the arc and can handle short area direction changes from players who try to cross his face. He excels in space as a run blocker and is a prototypical fit for an outside zone scheme.
Cons:
There is an overall lack of power in Grable’s game, especially as a run blocker. His hands pack a punch but lack accuracy, and he tends to grab and hold when he misses his target. As a newer player to the position, Grable fails to recognize twists and stunts and allows open rush lanes when he is focused on his original assignment. He has a top-heavy frame and is constantly caught reaching for targets, causing him to lose balance and wash himself out of position.
My Grade: 6th Round
Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 195
Kentucky Wildcats offensive lineman Jeremy Flax (77) looks up at the stands as he walks off the
Matt Stone/Louisville Courier Journal /
Jeremy Flax | Kentucky
Pros:
Well-built with a massive frame, Flax is a power player at the tackle position.. He is a mauler in a phone booth and shows excellent power to wall off power rushers off the edge. He drives off the line of scrimmage with a good pad level as a run blocker, and he has good leverage. His upper body strength is off the charts, and he does well to re-direct defenders to his inside shoulder when they try to cross his face.
Cons:
Flax is a poor athlete for the position, and his foot speed could be much better. He shows potential when playing against power rushers who attack him in his chest, but speed rushers and players with lateral agility cause significant issues for him. He cannot mirror against counter moves and fails to diagnose and communicate pressure packages from the second level, leading to free rushers in the B-Gaps. Due to his lack of athleticism and foot speed, Flax could be reduced to a role as a guard in a power scheme at the next level.
My Grade: Undrafted Free Agent
Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 221
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